The National Health Services (NMS) laboratory in Pennsylvania has denied conducting toxicology tests on the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, commonly known as Mohbad. The denial comes amid conflicting reports about the investigation into Mohbad’s death, raising serious questions about how forensic testing in the case was handled and communicated.
In a surprising development, NMS Labs has refuted the claims made by the Lagos State Government regarding Mohbad’s toxicology test. Punch Newspaper launched a fact-finding mission to uncover the truth behind the musician’s death, leading to this revelation.
A forensic pathologist had previously told the Coroner’s Court on May 15, 2024, that it was impossible to determine the cause of Mohbad’s death through an autopsy due to the advanced state of decomposition of his body. When the Coroner’s Court met in Ikorodu in November 2023, state attorney Omotoso Akinde stated that no toxicology tests, which are usually part of a post-mortem, were conducted.
Omotoso mentioned on a live show that the state’s DNA and Forensics Center handles such cases, often working with affiliated centers in the United States, including NMS Labs in Pennsylvania. However, an email dated May 17, 2024, from Esther Dede, a customer service associate at NMS Labs’ Forensics Division, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.“ .
The denial adds complexity to the investigation into Mohbad’s death, raising further questions about how forensic test results in the case were handled and communicated.
News of the US lab’s denial has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with fans and concerned citizens demanding answers and justice for Mohbad. The hashtag #JusticeForMohbad has been trending on X as users express their frustration and anger with the ongoing investigation. Public calls for transparency and accountability in the investigation continue to grow louder, reflecting widespread concern about the circumstances of Mohbad’s untimely death.
