The household of late singer Mohbad has demanded the disclosure of the id of a United States laboratory anticipated to conduct a DNA take a look at to find out the paternity of Liam, the singer’s son.
They additionally known as for the postponement of the examination scheduled for Saturday, October 31, on the Mainland General Hospital/IDH, Yaba, Lagos, pending clarification of its issues over transparency and compliance with a courtroom order.
In an announcement signed by the household head, Samuel Aloba, the household mentioned it was involved about preparations for the tissue-based DNA examination, notably stories that samples could be collected in Lagos and despatched to a laboratory within the US for evaluation.
The household needs clarification on whether or not the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, which it claimed was designated by a courtroom order issued on May 5, 2026, would conduct the examination or merely acquire and dispatch the samples overseas.
“This raises a basic query that have to be answered earlier than the train proceeds: Is the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre itself going to conduct the examination contemplated by the courtroom, or is it merely going to gather and dispatch samples to a different laboratory?
“The distinction is materials. Where a courtroom has directed {that a} scientific examination be performed at a selected establishment, the events are entitled to readability relating to the style by which that directive can be applied.
“If the designated centre intends to rely on a foreign laboratory to conduct the analysis, the arrangement should be explained and, where necessary, presented to the court for clarification,” the assertion learn.
The household mentioned no establishment or get together ought to unilaterally substitute a materially completely different association for one contemplated by a subsisting courtroom order with out applicable judicial clarification.
Mohbad’s household additionally demanded the complete title and tackle of the proposed abroad laboratory, proof of its accreditation and technical competence, particulars of the testing process, and documentation exhibiting how the samples could be collected, labelled, preserved, transported and examined.
It additional requested a mechanism to confirm that the samples collected in Lagos have been the identical ones acquired and analysed by the international laboratory.
The assertion added, “The family has been informed that the identity of the proposed overseas laboratory may be disclosed only to the court. While the family recognises the importance of protecting legitimate confidential information, confidentiality cannot be permitted to defeat the basic requirements of transparency, accountability and meaningful verification in a process whose outcome may have far-reaching legal and personal consequences.”
The household mentioned its issues weren’t an try to frustrate the judicial course of or to forestall a scientifically legitimate examination, however moderately to make sure that the end result might stand up to impartial scrutiny.
It expressed apprehension about attainable interference, mishandling or manipulation of the method if enough safeguards weren’t established earlier than the examination.
However, the household clarified that it was not claiming that the proposed
The proposed take a look at had already been compromised, or that manipulation had been established.
“In a matter as sensitive as Mohbad’s DNA, the result must not merely be announced; it must be demonstrably reliable. The integrity of the process must be capable of independent verification, from the point of sample collection to the final laboratory report,” it mentioned.
The household additionally linked its issues to questions it had beforehand raised concerning the dealing with of organic samples in the course of the autopsy examination performed in reference to Mohbad’s demise.
It questioned the function of the pathologist concerned in pattern assortment in the course of the coroner’s inquest.
The household additional claimed that the knowledge it acquired from its enquiries indicated that the laboratory to which samples from the sooner course of have been purportedly despatched had not acquired them or any specimen registered within the title of Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba.
It pressured, nevertheless, that the assertions represented its account of the matter and required clarification and verification, including that they weren’t findings of a courtroom or independently established proof of wrongdoing by any particular person or establishment.
The household maintained that it supported a reputable DNA examination able to resolving Liam’s paternity however insisted that the id of the testing laboratory and the chain of custody of the samples have to be clear.
It known as on the related authorities to handle its issues, present the required info and make sure that the examination complied with the courtroom’s order and accepted forensic procedures.
The household consequently requested the postponement of Saturday’s train till the excellent points have been clarified, enough discover was given to all events and their authorized representatives, and additional instructions have been obtained from the courtroom the place obligatory.
It mentioned its goal was to not predetermine the end result of the examination however to make sure that the eventual end result was primarily based on a reputable and correctly documented course of.
The household added that the general public curiosity in establishing the reality shouldn’t be undermined by avoidable uncertainty or an absence of transparency.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, on the age of 27. Following his demise, the Lagos State Police Command inaugurated a 13-man particular investigation staff to probe the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Earlier stories in 2024 indicated that Aloba, by way of authorized representatives, filed an utility on the coroner’s courtroom in Ikorodu to find out the reason for Mohbad’s demise and later demanded a DNA take a look at to resolve the paternity dispute.
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