Two of the three international laboratories tapped by a Lagos court to determine whether late singer Mohbad is the father of a child have declined the assignment, citing technical limitations in testing embalmed remains. The refusals have cast fresh uncertainty over one of West Africa’s most emotionally charged legal battles, igniting questions about cross‑border forensic standards and how Nigeria’s courts manage complex DNA disputes.

In March 2026, the Magistrate Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State authorized DNA testing in the United States and United Kingdom to establish whether a boy named Liam is the biological son of late Nigerian artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. But two UK laboratories — including one selected by the court and another nominated by Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi — said they cannot conduct post‑mortem DNA tests on embalmed bodies. According to a statement from Joseph Aloba’s legal counsel, these labs clarified their scope after preliminary inquiries — leaving only the American lab still in contention.

This isn’t only about establishing paternity. It touches on deeper issues:

• Forensic infrastructure gaps: Nigeria’s courts still rely on foreign labs for high‑stakes DNA work, yet protocols and expectations aren’t always aligned — creating a procedural limbo when expertise doesn’t match judicial orders.
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• Public trust and legacy: Mohbad’s death in September 2023 sparked widespread online movements and calls for accountability. The paternity saga feeds into larger narratives about transparency in high‑profile deaths and estates — especially in entertainment industries where fan communities drive public discourse.

• Families at odds: The legal tension between Mohbad’s father and widow over Liam symbolizes a broader struggle over legacy, legitimacy, and rights — and delays deepen emotional strain on both sides.

Post‑mortem DNA testing typically relies on well‑preserved tissue samples to extract viable genetic material. Embalming — a common practice in many cultures — can degrade or contaminate DNA, making standard testing difficult or impossible without specialized techniques.

In the U.S. and Europe, some labs specialize in limited post‑mortem work under strict conditions, but most commercial or clinical labs do not handle embalmed remains without bespoke protocols. That discrepancy is the core reason UK labs declined involvement — not necessarily reluctance to engage with Nigerians, but technical incapacity for this specific task.

The situation now isn’t just scientific — it’s procedural. Nigeria’s legal system must decide whether to identify alternate laboratories that do handle embalmed DNA, revise court directives, or consider alternative evidentiary pathways (such as familial DNA comparisons). The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape not only this case, but how Nigerian courts manage cross‑border forensic evidence in future disputes — and how families wrestling with loss and legacy find closure in the eyes of the law.