Lawyers raise concerns over post-mortem testing
The legal counsel to Joseph Aloba, father of the late musician Mohbad, Oladayo Ogungbe, has raised concerns over the DNA testing conducted to ascertain the paternity of Mohbad’s son, Liam Aloba, citing potential inadequacies in the laboratories involved.
Ogungbe explained that because the alleged father is deceased and the body embalmed, the DNA examination requires post-mortem extraction from tissue samples—a procedure demanding specialised expertise.
In a statement released yesterday, the lawyer noted that while the matter is still pending before a competent court, the circulation of misleading information has made it necessary to clarify the factual position based strictly on documents filed before the court.
He recalled that on February 24, 2025, the court ordered DNA tests to be conducted in three laboratories agreed upon by the parties, with a Social Welfare Officer supervising sample collection and submission to ensure transparency and credibility.
Clarifying the laboratory selection process, Ogungbe said:
“The laboratories were not unilaterally selected by Joseph Aloba. The record shows a tripartite selection involving both parties and the Court.
The laboratories are: DNA Diagnostics Center, Fairfield, Ohio (USA), proposed by the Applicant; Alpha Bio Labs, Warrington, UK, proposed by the Respondent; and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited, London, UK, independently selected by the Court through the Welfare Officer.”
Prior to sample collection, representatives of the Applicant confirmed whether the listed laboratories possessed the technical capacity to conduct post-mortem DNA testing from embalmed remains.
Ogungbe noted that responses from Alpha Bio Labs and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited indicated that they do not perform post-mortem DNA testing involving embalmed bodies.
He added that the Applicant has filed an Affidavit of Facts to ensure transparency and uphold the scientific reliability of any DNA testing conducted.
“It is therefore incorrect and misleading to suggest that Mr. Joseph Aloba deliberately chose laboratories lacking competence for tissue-based DNA testing,” Ogungbe said.
“The documentary record shows that only one laboratory was proposed by the Applicant, while the others were proposed by the Respondent and the Court respectively. Mr. Joseph Aloba remains committed to due process and to any DNA testing procedure that is transparent, scientifically credible, and conducted in strict compliance with court orders.”
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