The family of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, has rejected the autopsy results conducted on him and is calling for an independent post-mortem and toxicology test.
Mohbad died on September 12 at age 27 under controversial circumstances, leading the police to exhume his remains and conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
On May 16, a pathologist from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) told the Coroner’s Inquest that the autopsy was inconclusive due to factors like body decomposition and potential medication reactions before his death.
On Monday, June 17, the Aloba family challenged the Lagos State Government to confirm the autopsy’s authenticity due to public doubts and conflicting reports.
They expressed their dissatisfaction during a virtual press conference led by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, and their legal team headed by Wahab Shittu.
The family questioned where and how the autopsy was conducted and demanded a thorough investigation.
Mohbad family said: “We, the legal representatives of the Aloba family, express our profound dissatisfaction and disappointment with the recent announcement regarding the toxicology test results of the late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), which have been declared inconclusive by the pathologist.
“This outcome is entirely unacceptable to us and the Aloba Family and raises serious concerns about the integrity and thoroughness of the investigation by the police and the medical team into the untimely death of their beloved son, brother, and friend. The Aloba family and, indeed, the whole world demand to know where the toxicology test was carried out as this has impugned the integrity.”
Mohbad’s family expressed disappointment with the toxicology test results, which they found inconclusive, raising concerns about the investigation’s integrity.
The family hopes that a toxicology test reportedly conducted in the United States would clarify Mohbad’s death.
They referenced a Punch newspaper report from May 31, 2024, which claimed that a US lab denied conducting the poison test on Mohbad, calling for a review of the toxicology test.
The family said, “Following the news report in the Punch newspaper of 31 May 2024, titled ‘US Lab denies conducting poison test on Mohbad’ and the silence that followed from the government, a review of the toxicology test must be necessary. The legal team wonders how the legal letterhead and the address of the National Medical Services Laboratories in Pennsylvania, USA, appeared on the toxicology test report if the test was not carried out in the USA.
“The legal team is puzzled more, given the discrepancies in the further response given by the NMS laboratories ascribing the test to another sister laboratory. The conflict of interest that borders on professional integrity. The public is interested in knowing the relationship between the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Laboratory, NMS in the USA and ITSI Biosciences, who allegedly completed the toxicology test on behalf of the Lagos State government.”
The legal team demanded a fresh examination of the toxicology samples by an independent and reputable forensic laboratory and called for international forensic experts to oversee and validate the re-examination process.
They criticized the Nigeria Police for their perceived lack of effort in the investigation and called for the intervention of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“The Aloba Family remains steadfast in their pursuit of truth and justice for Ilerioluwa. They deserve clear, definitive answers regarding the cause of his death, and it is the responsibility of the investigative bodies to provide them with such clarity.
“The current ‘inconclusive’ results only serve to prolong their agony and uncertainty, which is both unfair and unjust.
“Considering the Coroner Inquest, we appeal to the presiding Magistrate to ensure that an independent toxicology report is submitted to the Coroner’s Court before submitting the final report to the authorities.
“Presently, we have an application before the Coroner Court seeking approval to conduct an independent autopsy and toxicology test.
“We call on the presiding magistrate in the matter to expedite a hearing on the independent autopsy and toxicology application. That is the only way justice can be served in this case,” the statement added.
Mohbad’s family are appealing to the Coroner’s Court to approve their request for an independent autopsy and toxicology test to ensure justice is served.
KanyiDaily recalls that a recent autopsy conducted on Mohbad suggested a possible cause of death related to a drug reaction.