The Aloba family has secured permission from the Ikorodu Coroner's Court to conduct an independent autopsy on their son, the late Afrobeats singer, Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. This decision comes after the court deemed the initial government autopsy inconclusive.
The family had expressed doubt surrounding the circumstances of Mohbad's death on September 12, 2023, prompting their request for a second examination.
The initial autopsy, presented by Professor Soyemi of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, was rejected by the Aloba family's legal team, who subsequently pushed for an independent postmortem.
In a statement released to Prime 9ja Online, Monisola Odumosu, head of the Aloba legal team, confirmed the court's ruling. The order, issued by Coroner T.A. Sonubi, authorizes the family to engage independent pathologists and toxicologists to conduct a thorough autopsy. However, Ms. Odumosu noted that the Aloba family will bear all legal expenses associated with the procedure.
The court mandated the presence of the deceased's parents and wife during the autopsy. This follows the legal team's earlier rejection of the initial autopsy results, urging for an independent toxicology test as well.
While the court denied a request to recall previously examined witnesses, it did approve the introduction of new witnesses. The Aloba family must provide additional details about these individuals to facilitate the issuance of witness summons by the court.
Wunmi Aloba, the deceased's wife, also submitted a request to oversee the burial arrangements. The legal team indicated that the burial would hinge on the completion of the independent autopsy and toxicology test. Although the court expressed openness to allowing the burial to proceed, it emphasized the need for consensus among all parties involved – Mr. Joseph Aloba (Mohbad's father), Mrs. Abosede Olumiyi (Mohbad's mother), and Mrs. Wunmi Aloba. In the event of a disagreement, the court advised seeking resolution through the High Court.