A Magistrate Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos has ordered that Wunmi, the wife of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, be served notice of a pending DNA test application, by substituted means.
A statement signed by a member of the legal team to the Aloba family, Monisola Odumosu, disclosed this on Wednesday maintaining that the order became necessary after the court sheriff attempted to serve the court process personally on Wunmi twice, but failed.
It will be recalled that the Aloba family is contesting the paternity of baby Liam and filed an application before the Family Court to grant an order against Wunmi to present herself and baby Liam for a DNA test at any recognised laboratory in Lagos.
In the application filed by the legal team to Joseph Aloba, father to the late singer, the family sought an order to serve Wunmi the court papers for the DNA, by posting all the originating processes and other processes in the suit on the last-known address of the respondent.
Odumosu said, “If the process were served on the last-known address of the respondent by Order of the Court, it would constitute good service and she would be aware of the pending suit. The Chief Magistrate granted the order and ordered that the respondent be served by posting the court process on her last known address.
The statement added that the singer’s wife, in a viral video, said she was ready for a DNA test, noting that she had never been available for the court sheriff to serve her the originating motion.
Odumosu also added that the matter had been adjourned till next month for the report of service.
Counsel to Wunmi, Taiwo Olawanle, has however denied knowledge of the court order.
He said, “We don’t have the court order. If we have an order, we will advise her to adhere to it. That is not a problem. But we are not aware of any order”.
Mohbad, aged 27, died on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances. He had left his record label, Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, in February 2022.
In September, 2023, The singer’s body was exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.
The Lagos State Police Command had in the same September also inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.
His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.
At the last sitting of the Coroner inquiring into the cause of his death on March 2024, the Director of the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Dr Richard Somiari, had indicated that the results of an autopsy conducted on the deceased body would be ready in the next three to four weeks.
Somiari gave the assurance while testifying before the coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi.
