Nearly three years after his tragic passing in September 2023, the remains of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa “Mohbad” Aloba remain unburied in a Lagos mortuary as his father, Joseph Aloba, refuses to allow the final burial until a definitive DNA paternity test is concluded. Following the latest legal proceedings at the Magistrate Court in Ikorodu, Chief Magistrate Salamah Matepo adjourned the case to August 11, 2026, prolonging the family’s bitter deadlock. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Core Obstacles Delaying the Burial
The ongoing delay stems from a combination of complex legal battles, laboratory complications, and deep family distrust: [1, 2]
- Paternity Dispute: Joseph Aloba insists that verifying whether his grandson, Liam, is Mohbad’s biological child is central to finding “justice” and resolving the deceased singer’s estate and royalties. [1, 2, 3]
- Laboratory Complications: The court previously selected three international tissue-based DNA laboratories (two in the UK and one in the US). However, the family’s legal team recently revealed that two of the three foreign labs lack the technical capacity to extract DNA from heavily embalmed remains. [1, 2]
- Insistence on Tissue Testing: The Aloba family strictly rejects any DNA tests using blood samples from living relatives. They demand a post-mortem parentage test utilizing Mohbad’s own biological tissue to ensure absolute credibility. [1, 2]
- Stance of the Widow: Mohbad’s widow, Omowunmi “Wunmi” Aloba, maintains that Liam is entirely Mohbad’s son. While her legal team states she has never opposed a transparent, court-ordered DNA test, she has criticized the opposing camp for altering legal representatives and dragging out the process. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Meanwhile, associates and fans of the late Afrobeats star continue to stage public appeals, pleading with the family and the Lagos State Government to allow the singer to finally be laid to rest in peace. [1, 2]