DNA Tests Approved Abroad to Settle Mohbad’s Son’s Paternity

A Lagos magistrate in Ikorodu has taken a step that, to many, feels both necessary and slow — the court has approved DNA testing in foreign labs to establish whether little Liam is biologically the son of the late singer Mohbad. It’s a development that drags a family matter into the legal light, and, well, it stirs up more questions than it settles, if I’m honest.

What the court decided

The judge authorised three DNA testing centres: one lab in the United States and two in the United Kingdom. The choice wasn’t random. Each side essentially picked one: the family of the late singer — represented by his father, Oladayo Ogungbe — and the widow, Wunmi, plus Joseph Aloba each had a say. Then the court chose a third, intended to be independent. That way, nobody can later cry foul and say “I didn’t trust the results.” So, the setup is: one lab nominated by “us” (the father’s side), one by “them” (the widow’s side), and a neutral lab named by the court.

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Who will be there when samples are taken

The court emphasised scrutiny: all the key parties will be present during sample collection. That includes representatives for the father, the widow, and others connected to the matter, with welfare officers also assigned to monitor the process. It’s meant to make the testing transparent and minimise any claims of tampering or unfairness. The final hearing for this phase — the physical collection of samples — was pushed to April 7, 2026. It’s not around the corner, which is frustrating, but at least there’s a date.

Why this is happening now

The push for DNA testing traces back to the circumstances around Mohbad’s death in September 2023. His father has continued to press for clarity on a few fronts, and the paternity of Mohbad’s son, Liam, is one thread in that larger tangle. I get why a parent would want certainty. It matters for inheritance, for family identity, for grieving in a practical sense. But it’s also deeply personal. Asking for DNA tests from overseas labs — that’s not just technical, it’s symbolic. It says, “We want incontrovertible proof,” and maybe, “We don’t trust local processes.” Whether that distrust is rooted in history or emotion, I won’t try to adjudicate here.

The dynamics between the parties

There’s a delicate dance going on. The father’s lawyer made the announcement after the court session, and his words were plainly procedural: three laboratories were chosen, parties agreed on representation, and the court would ensure an impartial pick. But behind those procedural phrases is a more human exchange — disagreement, suspicion, hope for closure. I imagine both sides have moments of exhaustion and moments of fierce conviction. Sometimes legal disputes start out calm and then get tangled up in pride or grief; sometimes they’re a way for people to hold on to control when everything else feels uncontrollable.

Practicalities and what to expect

With the samples set to be collected under supervision, the results will likely carry more weight. Courts accepting foreign labs suggests an intention to avoid local credibility battles, though that too brings complications: logistics, chain of custody across borders, the time it takes to ship samples and wait for official reports. Then there’s the question of what the results will mean legally and emotionally. Legally, a confirmed paternity would clear the way for inheritance and official recognition. Emotionally, I suspect it might not answer every question. People react unpredictably to facts; some will accept them and move on, others won’t.

A reminder of the human cost

This whole episode reads less like a neat legal case and more like a family trying to assemble facts from scattered shards. Mohbad’s death has left a void in more than one household. Paternity tests are clinical things — tubes, swabs, lab reports — but they sit at the center of grief and identity. I can’t help thinking about little Liam, who is, as far as public accounts go, caught in the middle. Any decision here will ripple outward: to relatives, to friends, and to fans who still follow the story.

What might happen next

After April 7, once samples are collected and sent to the chosen labs, there’ll be the wait. If all goes smoothly, the labs will return consistent results. If they don’t — if results conflict or there are procedural objections — the matter could slide back into the courtroom for more debate. Either way, the courts have at least set a path toward a definitive test rather than endless argument. That’s progress, albeit slow and necessarily formal.

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A final thought

It’s tempting to see DNA as a silver bullet — proof that settles things once and for all. But human affairs seldom yield that neatly. The test might give clarity on biology, yes, but it won’t smooth out the hurt, or answer every question about Mohbad’s passing. Still, for a father seeking certainty or for a child needing recognition, this is a step. Whether it brings peace, friction, or something in between, we’ll find out in time.