Mohbad’s death: Toxicology result finally ready

There are strong indications that the toxicology test results, which were used to determine the cause of death of late music artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, were received by the Lagos State Government and forwarded to the police authorities for additional action.

Remember that on September 12, 2023, Mohbad passed away at the age of 27, and the circumstances surrounding his passing sparked debates on social media.

Mohbad, a former signee of Naira Marley’s Marlian Music record label, departed the label in February 2022.

A 13-person special investigation team was established by the Lagos State Police Command on September 18, 2023, to look into the singer’s death.

Along with other others, Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, were arrested as a result of his passing.

After that, they were granted bail and released from police custody to await the actual trial.

On September 21, 2023, the singer’s body was dug up for an autopsy.

Oluwaseun Akinde, the Lagos State attorney, had earlier stated that the coroner’s court in the Ikorodu area of the state in November 2023 had explained that the autopsy was concluded regarding the deceased’s external body while the toxicological test concerned the interior body.

America is where the toxicological test was carried out.

A state government source who is conversant with the case and preferred anonymity said the test result was sent to the state DNA and Forensic Centre last week.

According to the source, “The toxicology test was ready and transmitted to the police last week.

“We projected 10 weeks from the outset but it came in before then. It was received by the DNA and Forensic Centre last week and has been sent to the police.”

Also, another source in the Lagos State Police Command who declined to mention the name as he was not authorized to speak to the press, confirmed the receipt of the result.

According to the source; “The toxicology report is with us. It arrived on Monday but it is medical jargon for us. We don’t understand what it is. So it has been sent to the pathologist that carried out the autopsy to analyse and interpret it.”

Meanwhile, Lagos State Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, as well as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, were yet to respond to messages sent to them as of press time.

Similarly, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Earlier, the Director of Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Richard Somiari, on March 20 said that the toxicology result would be ready in the next three to four weeks.

Somiari, while testifying during a coroner’s inquest into the death of the singer, said, “We expected to get the first set of autopsy results in three to four weeks and re-confirm to authenticate the cause of the death.

“We searched for multiple possibilities, to check if poison was involved in the death of Mohbad since no actual cause was mentioned,” he said.

The forensic expert assured the public of adequate security and monitoring of samples for the autopsy.

“We have a place where items are stored for the safety and security of results. There is a procedure for monitoring samples moved abroad,” he said.