April 19 (THEWILL)- A Magistrate Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State 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 that the order became necessary after the court sheriff attempted to serve the court process personally on Wunmi twice, but failed.
THEWILL recalls 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 died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27 under controversial circumstances. He had left his record label, Marlian Music, owned by Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, in February 2022.
At the last sitting of the Coroner inquiring into the cause of his death in 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.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
