The Ikorodu High Court in Lagos State has granted approval for DNA paternity testing to be conducted at three accredited international laboratories—two in the United Kingdom and one in the United States—to conclusively determine the biological paternity of Liam Oladimeji Aloba, the son of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, by Justice Bukola Osunsanmi following a protracted legal battle between Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi Aloba (née Owodunni), and the deceased singer’s father, Mr. Joseph Aloba. The court’s decision brings a significant procedural breakthrough in a case that has remained in the public eye since Mohbad’s controversial death on September 12, 2023, and the subsequent custody and paternity dispute over his only child.
The three approved laboratories are:
- DNA Reference Laboratory (DRL) – San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Anglia DNA Services Ltd – Norwich, United Kingdom
- AlphaBiolabs Ltd – Warrington, United Kingdom
These facilities were jointly proposed by the parties and independently verified by the court as meeting international forensic standards, possessing ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, and maintaining chain-of-custody protocols acceptable for use in Nigerian judicial proceedings.
In her ruling, Justice Osunsanmi directed that:
- Sample collection must take place under strict supervision by court-appointed officials and representatives of both parties.
- The chain of custody shall be jointly monitored by nominated representatives of Wunmi Aloba, Joseph Aloba, and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
- All three laboratories must conduct independent parallel testing to ensure result integrity.
- The results must be sealed, certified, and forwarded directly to the court registry without prior disclosure to any party.
- The entire process, including courier logistics and result transmission, must be completed within 90 days from the date of the order.
The court further ordered that the cost of the DNA testing, international courier services, and related logistics be borne equally by the parties unless otherwise agreed. It also imposed a confidentiality clause prohibiting any party or their representatives from publicly disclosing preliminary findings or commentary until the court formally receives and adopts the results.
The paternity suit was initiated by Joseph Aloba in late 2023, shortly after Mohbad’s burial, when he raised doubts about Liam’s biological relationship to his late son. Wunmi Aloba has consistently maintained that Liam is Mohbad’s biological child and accused her father-in-law of using the dispute to gain custody and control over the child’s inheritance and publicity rights related to Mohbad’s estate and posthumous music releases.
Throughout the proceedings, both sides have filed multiple affidavits, counter-affidavits, and motions, including applications for interim custody orders, injunctions restraining public commentary, and requests for independent DNA testing outside Nigeria due to mutual distrust of local facilities.
In September 2025, the court had initially ordered DNA testing at a Lagos-based laboratory jointly agreed upon by the parties. However, that arrangement collapsed after allegations of potential compromise and lack of international accreditation acceptable to both sides. The matter was adjourned several times as lawyers negotiated the selection of neutral, foreign laboratories with globally recognised forensic standards.
Wednesday’s ruling represents a major procedural milestone and is expected to pave the way for final resolution of the paternity question that has polarised public opinion and dominated social media discourse in Nigeria for more than two years.
Legal commentators have described the decision to use three independent laboratories as a prudent safeguard against future challenges to the integrity of the results. The involvement of UK- and US-based facilities also ensures compliance with stringent chain-of-custody protocols that are likely to be accepted by both parties and the court.
Following the ruling, counsel to Joseph Aloba, Mr. Monisola Odumosu, described the decision as “a victory for truth and justice,” while Wunmi Aloba’s legal team, led by Mr. Taiwo Odumosu (SAN), welcomed the order and expressed confidence that the outcome would “finally put this painful chapter to rest.”
The case has drawn significant public and media interest due to Mohbad’s posthumous fame, the unresolved circumstances surrounding his death (which remains under coroner’s inquest), and the ongoing battle for control of his estate, music catalogue, and infant son.
The court has adjourned the matter to May 20, 2026, for mention and possible receipt of the DNA results. Until then, interim custody arrangements agreed upon in earlier orders remain in force.
Both families have been urged by the court to refrain from further public commentary or actions that could prejudice the proceedings or affect the welfare of the minor child.
