The ongoing paternity dispute between Omowunmi, the widow of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad), and Joseph Aloba, Mohbad’s father, has escalated, with Omowunmi accusing Aloba of avoiding a court-ordered DNA test to determine the paternity of her son, Liam.
The controversy dates back to a Magistrates Court ruling in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on July 9, 2024, which directed both parties to pursue an Alternative Dispute Resolution, However, subsequent closed-door negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, had initially filed a suit requesting a DNA test to verify that Liam is indeed his late son’s child.
In a letter dated January 9, 2025, Omowunmi’s legal representative, Salawu Akingbolu Chambers, stated that despite her willingness to undergo the DNA test, Aloba rejected two proposed hospitals—Eko Hospital and Reddington Hospital—without providing any valid reason.
The court had previously ordered that both parties mutually agree on a medical centre to conduct the test, with court-appointed officers supervising the process.
Omowunmi rejected Aloba’s choice of University College Hospital Ibadan while Aloba objected to Lagoon Hospitals, leading to a stalemate.
In their letter, Omowunmi’s lawyers accused Aloba’s legal team of making false claims on social media, suggesting that she was the one delaying the test.
“To our utter surprise, instead of responding to our letter, we saw Mr Taiwo Odumosu, counsel for the Applicant, making statements on social media that we were not ready for the DNA test. This is a misrepresentation, and we demand an apology,” the letter read.
Omowunmi further alleged that Mohbad’s father defamed her son, Liam, on social media by suggesting the child was illegitimate.
“Most unfortunate is the fact that the Applicant went on social media, portraying Master Liam as a bastard. This is unacceptable, especially after the court asked him to proceed with the DNA test that he is now surprisingly avoiding,” the letter added.
Omowunmi warned that if Aloba continued to delay the process, she would independently conduct the DNA test and make the results public.
“If your client chooses to continue with this tardiness and social media hype, we will have no choice but to conduct the DNA ourselves and publish the results for the world to see. We will also inform the court of our position,” the letter stated.
In a January 11, 2025, response from Hillceetee Partners, signed by Emmanuel Oroko, Aloba’s legal team denied the allegations, claiming that Odumosu’s comments were misinterpreted.
“Mr. Odumosu wishes to clarify that he never stated that your client was not ready for the DNA test. He only mentioned that the hospitals had not responded to enquiries on their readiness to conduct the test,” the letter stated.
However, Hillceetee Partners announced that they would no longer represent Mohbad’s father in the case.
“This response is necessary to set the record straight as our chambers no longer represent the Applicant,” Oroko concluded.
The paternity battle has dragged on for months, drawing public attention and sparking debates on social media. While Omowunmi insists on transparency, her critics question the timing of the DNA test.
