U.S. Laboratory Refutes Conducting Poison Test on Mohbad

The management of National Medical Services Laboratories (NMS Labs) in Pennsylvania, United States, has refuted the Lagos State Government’s claim that a toxicology test was conducted at their facility to determine the cause of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad’s, death.

NMS Labs’ response came after inquiries from our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the cause of the musician’s death.

Previously, some members of the public protested against a pathologist’s claim in the Coroner’s Court on May 15, stating that an autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of the corpse.

PUNCH Metro reported that in November 2023, the state government’s counsel, O. Akinde, told the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu that a toxicology test was conducted in the United States. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, reiterated this during a live call with Ahmad Isah, anchor of the Abuja-based online program Brekete Family, in February 2024. Omotoso stated that the test was being conducted at NMS Labs in Pennsylvania.

“The state DNA and Forensic Centre is handling the matter with affiliate centers, including NMS in Pennsylvania, USA,” Omotoso said.

The test results reportedly arrived in Nigeria in April 2024 and were passed on to a pathologist. However, the pathologist later told the coroner’s court that the autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to decomposition.

During the fact-finding mission, our correspondent verified the locations of NMS Labs in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and their crime labs in Willow Grove and Grand Prairie, Texas. An inquiry was sent to confirm if a toxicology test for Mohbad was conducted at their facility. Here is the link where he said so at 32:21

Responding to PUNCH Metro on May 17, Esther Dede, Client Services Associate, Forensics Division at NMS Labs, refuted the claim, stating, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”

Dede added that compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations would require authorization from the submitting agency.

When contacted, Commissioner Omotoso said the name of the lab was provided by the state DNA and Forensic Centre officials. “This was what I was told by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre officials. I will have to check again because that was what I was told,” he said.

Mohbad died at 27 on September 12, 2023, with his death sparking controversy on social media. A former signee of Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team on September 18, 2023, to probe his death, leading to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial socialite Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry. Mohbad’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for autopsy.