Late MohBad
The controversy surrounding the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as MohBad, has intensified as the National Medical Services Laboratories (NMS Labs) in Pennsylvania, USA, denied conducting a toxicology test on the deceased’s body. This denial contradicts earlier claims by the Lagos State Government.
Contradicting Claims
The Lagos State Government had previously asserted that MohBad’s body was sent to a medical facility in the US to determine the cause of his death. However, NMS Labs refuted this claim. Responding to inquiries from The PUNCH, Esther Dede, Client Services Associate in the Forensics Division of NMS Labs, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”
Dede further explained, “To maintain our compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations, we would need authorisation from the submitting agency.” This response implies that no such authorisation or submission related to MohBad was received by NMS Labs.
Lagos State Government’s Response
Reacting to the laboratory’s denial, Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, maintained that NMS Labs was the facility identified by the state’s DNA and Forensic Centre. Omotoso said, “This was what I was told by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre officials who took the sample there. We are dealing with the officials of the centre, they have three other labs that they have affiliations with. If they have an emergency, they can go to any of the three labs. I asked which particular one did they go to and they answered it was that one. That means I will have to go and check again because that was what I was told.”
Governor’s Statement
In December 2023, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu addressed the delay in concluding the investigation into MohBad’s death during a town hall meeting. He explained that the state lacked the necessary forensic facilities after the previous facility was destroyed during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
Sanwo-Olu said, “Security is not about emotion, it’s serious business. I remember I met you three years ago. As you said, there’s no emotion. I’m standing in front of you. There’s no emotion. It’s not emotional. We will do the job. We will do it well. These are police officers, the MohBad case is still live. They’re treating it.”
He further explained the reason for sending the toxicology test abroad, stating, “We had to take the forensics out. The forensic (laboratory) that we built that is the best in sub-Sahara Africa was burned down during #EndSARS. We have to take the test out. They’ve done all their reports, not only when it comes back that we can tie the two together. Some people are in detention as we speak; we have not released them.”
Ongoing Investigations
The denial by NMS Labs and the Lagos State Government’s subsequent responses highlight the complexities and challenges in the investigation into MohBad’s death. With conflicting information and ongoing inquiries, the clarity of the actual procedures followed and the results of the toxicology tests remain uncertain.
As the investigation continues, the need for transparent communication and thorough investigation processes is crucial to resolve the controversy and provide clear answers regarding the cause of MohBad’s death