Omowunmi, the widow of the late Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has accused her late husband’s father, Joseph Aloba, of avoiding a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to resolve a paternity dispute involving the son she had with Mohbad.
The controversy stems from a case filed in the Magistrates Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, where both parties were directed to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve the matter. Despite initial attempts at closed-door negotiations, the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
In a statement issued by the family’s legal representative, Monisola Odumosu, in October 2024, Omowunmi had initially agreed to the DNA test, as confirmed by the family’s legal team. Following this, the court ordered the test to be carried out at a mutually agreed-upon laboratory in Nigeria, with appointed officers to supervise the process to ensure transparency and reliability.
However, in a letter from Omowunmi’s legal team, dated January 9, 2025, Omowunmi accused Mohbad’s father of delaying the process by rejecting both her choice of Lagoon Hospitals and his own choice of UCH Ibadan. The letter further revealed that Omowunmi had suggested alternative hospitals, The Eko Hospital and Reddington Hospitals, but received no response from Mohbad’s father.
The legal team expressed disappointment, stating, “It is sad that after we have patiently waited for your response, nothing has been forthcoming.” Omowunmi also voiced concerns over accusations made on social media by Taiwo Odumosu, the lawyer representing Mohbad’s father, claiming that she was not ready for the DNA test. Omowunmi denied the allegation, demanding an apology for what she considered an unjust accusation.
In the letter, Omowunmi also expressed frustration over Mohbad’s father’s public defamation of her son, Master Liam, calling him a “bastard” on social media. She described the actions as deeply hurtful, particularly given the court’s order for a DNA test that her father-in-law appeared to be evading.
Omowunmi threatened to proceed with the DNA test independently if the delays continued, warning, “If your client continues in this tardy manner, we will have no choice but to conduct the DNA ourselves and publish the results for the world to see.”
In response, Mohbad’s father’s legal team, led by Emmanuel Oroko of Hillceetee Partners, denied the allegations. Oroko clarified that Taiwo Odumosu had never stated that Omowunmi was unwilling to undergo the test. Instead, he explained that Odumosu had only expressed concern over the hospitals’ response to the DNA test inquiry.
Furthermore, Oroko announced that Hillceetee Partners would no longer represent Mohbad’s father in the matter, ending their involvement in the ongoing dispute.
The case remains unresolved, with tensions between both sides escalating as the DNA test is yet to be carried out.
