Court orders DNA test on Mohbad’s son to ascertain paternity

A Magistrate Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State has ordered a paternity test to be conducted on Liam Aloba, the young son of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as ‘Mohbad’.

The presiding magistrate, Adefisoye Sonuga issued the order on Tuesday while ruling on the application filed by Mohbad’s father.

According to the court’s directive, two separate Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) tests are to be carried out, one in a recognised and accredited hospital in Nigeria and another in an accredited medical facility abroad. Both parties or their representatives are required to be present when samples are collected.

“The court hereby orders that two DNA tests be conducted one within Nigeria and another in a recognized and accredited hospital outside Nigeria,” the magistrate ruled.

“Both parties or their representatives shall be present when the samples are taken.”

Sonuga also held that the tests be carried out in government-approved medical facilities and that tissue or hair samples may be taken from the remains of Mohbad, currently preserved at the Military Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

Mohbad’s wife, Omowunmi Cynthia Aloba, is listed as the sole respondent in the application, which was brought under the Family Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012 and the Magistrate Courts (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.

The case has been adjourned until November 11, 2025.

Recall Mohbad died under controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023, after receiving injection administered by auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe.

He was buried the following day, but due to public outcry and demands for justice, his body was exhumed by the police on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.

In May 2024, the pathologist in charge of the autopsy revealed that the cause of death could not be determined due to the decomposition of his body.

The application was brought by Joseph Aloba, Mohbad’s father pursuant to Order 8 Rules 1 & 8 of the Family Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) 2012, and Order 9 Rules 8 & 9 of the Magistrate Courts (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.

He had insisted that his son would not be buried unless a DNA test was conducted to determine Liam’s paternity.

The applicant sought an order of the court directing the Chief Medical Officer /Chief Pathologist or any other appropriately qualified officer of the Military Hospital Yaba, Lagos, who is in charge of the remains of the late Mohbad presently at the Military Hospital Yaba Lagos, to remove any tissue/ hair or any part of the body of the deceased for the purpose of conducting a DNA test on Master Liam Aloba, at a recognised and accredited Government or private medical facility within Lagos State or other agreeable hospital outside Lagos State.

He argued in his application that “there remains uncertainty regarding the paternity of Liam” and that establishing paternity is crucial for determining the child’s welfare and maintenance obligations.