Tuesday, June 18, 2024 –The family of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly called Mohbad, have rejected the autopsy result carried out on him by the Lagos state government and have demanded an independent toxicology be conducted on his body to ascertain the true cause of his death.
At a conference in Lagos state on
Monday, June 17, the family through its legal counsel, Wahab Shittu, said the
issues that had trailed the autopsy report presented before the Coroner court
sitting in Ikorodu by a Forensic Scientist and Pathologist from the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof Sunday Soyemi, indicated traces of
discrepancies in the findings carried out by the Nigerian Police and the
medical experts from the state.
The family alleged that these issues
have cast a shadow on the authenticity of the report, saying an independent
toxicology would provide a better understanding of the cause of their son’s
death.
The family also alleged that the
silence from the government and police on the media report which contained the
United States laboratory's denial of conducting an autopsy on Mohbad has left
them to wonder if the investigation was for truth-seeking. The family called on
the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene.
‘’This outcome is entirely
unacceptable to us and the Aloba Family and raises serious concerns about the
integrity and thoroughness of the investigation by the police and the medical
team into the untimely death of their beloved son, brother, and friend. The
Aloba family and, indeed, the whole world demand to know where the toxicology
test was carried out as this has impugned the integrity.
The legal team wonders how the
letterhead and the address of the National Medical Services Laboratories in
Pennsylvania, USA appeared on the toxicology test report if the test was not
truly carried out in the USA.
The legal team is puzzled more given
the discrepancies in the further response given by the NMS laboratories
ascribing the test to another sister laboratory. The conflict of interest that
bothers professional integrity. The public is interested in knowing the
relationship between the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Laboratory, NMS in the
USA and ITSI Biosciences who allegedly completed the toxicology test on behalf
of the Lagos State government.
The Aloba Family, in their quest for
truth and justice, had hoped that the toxicology test, reportedly conducted in
the United States, would shed light on the circumstances surrounding his tragic
passing.
However, the declaration of the test
as ‘inconclusive’ fails to provide the clarity needed and undermines the public
as well as his family’s faith in the investigative process.
In light of these developments, the
Aloba Family is compelled to denounce the ‘inconclusive’ toxicology test
results and put forth the following demands and positions: Independent
Re-Examination: We call for an independent re-examination of the toxicology
samples by a reputable and internationally recognized forensic laboratory. This
re-examination should be conducted with the utmost transparency and adherence
to the highest standards of forensic science.
Comprehensive Review of Procedures: A
thorough review of the procedures and protocols followed during the initial
toxicology testing is imperative. This review should include an assessment of
the chain of custody, handling, and analysis of the samples to ensure that no
procedural lapses or contamination occurred.
Collaboration with International
Experts: We urge the involvement of independent international forensic experts
to oversee and validate the re-examination process. Their participation will
help restore confidence in the findings and ensure that all possible avenues
are explored.
The Aloba Family demands full
disclosure of all findings and reports related to the toxicology tests.
Transparency is crucial to understanding the cause of death and dispelling any
doubts or suspicions.
Time is of the essence in this
matter. We call upon the relevant authorities to expedite the re-examination
process and ensure that the family receives definitive answers without undue
delay.
The Nigeria Police has not done
enough in this case. The investigation so far conducted does not show the
thoroughness and professionalism expected in a murder case of this nature. We
call on the Inspector General of Police to personally intervene in this
investigation and bring the perpetrators to book.
The Aloba Family remains steadfast in
their pursuit of truth and justice for Ilerioluwa. They deserve clear,
definitive answers regarding the cause of his death, and it is the
responsibility of the investigative bodies to provide them with such clarity. The
current ‘inconclusive’ results only serve to prolong their agony and
uncertainty, which is both unfair and unjust.
‘Considering the Coroner Inquest, we
appeal to the presiding Magistrate at to ensure that an independent toxicology
report is submitted to the Coroner’s Court before submitting the final
report to the authorities. Presently, we
have an application before the Coroner Court seeking approval to conduct an
independent autopsy and toxicology test.
“We
call on the presiding magistrate in the matter to expedite a hearing on the
independent autopsy and toxicology application. That is the only way justice
can be served in this case”. the family said
Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12 2023, under
controversial circumstances leading to the police exhuming his remains and
conducting an autopsy on September 21 to ascertain the cause of his death.
On 16 May, Professor Osiyemi who is a pathologist at the
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), informed the Coroner’s
Inquest that the autopsy conducted on Mohbad was inconclusive in determining
the cause of death. The pathologist attributed the inconclusive autopsy to
factors such as body decomposition and potential reactions to medications
Mohbad received before his death, among others.
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