The family of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, has been granted permission to conduct a second autopsy. This decision comes after the family expressed dissatisfaction with the initial autopsy results, which were deemed inconclusive.
Mohbad, 27, died on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances. After Nigerians called for justice, his body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to ascertain the cause of his death. The result of the autopsy, which commenced in September 2023, was released on June 7 but failed to reveal the cause of death.
The Aloba family rejected the result and urged the Lagos State Government on June 16 to confirm the autopsy’s authenticity because of the public’s doubts and conflicting reports.
Mohbad’s family appealed to the coroner’s inquest’s presiding magistrate to ensure that an independent toxicology report is submitted to the court before the final report is submitted to the authorities.
During a hearing on Wednesday, June 26, at a magistrate court in Ikorodu, Mohbad’s family and their legal representatives were granted permission for a second autopsy.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, expressed gratitude for the court’s decision to allow for a second autopsy.
He said, “I appreciate the responses all along to the death of Mohbad. We appreciate the judiciary for this decision. There is a reason for the government to instruct that we exhume Mohbad for them to know the cause of his death.”
The family’s legal representative, Grace Shorinde, noted that the results of the second autopsy must be available before August 7, which is when the coroner’s inquest is set to conclude.
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A representative from the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, Rotimi Adigun, stated that the organisation has internal plans to address the case. Lawyer David Wonuola pinpointed the importance of the court’s decision to allow the recording of witness statements.
Moving on, Mohbad’s father expressed shock at seeing his daughter-in-law, Wunmi, and his estranged wife, Mohbad’s mom.
“It was sad seeing the mother and the wife because we haven’t been communicating for some days; it was like a shock,” he said.
