A group of protesters on Monday stormed the headquarters of the National Medical Services Laboratories in Pennsylvania, the United States over the outcome of a toxicology test reportedly conducted in the facility to determine the cause of death of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
A member of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, disclosed this to PUNCH Online on Wednesday.
PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.
The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the musician’s cause of death.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, while responding to inquiries via a live telephone call with Ahmad Isah, the anchor of an Abuja-based online programme, Brekete Family, sometime in February 2024, had said the toxicology test was being conducted at the NMS Labs in Pennsylvania, USA.
However, a pathologist while testifying before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealed that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.
Responding to PUNCH Metro’s inquiry on May 17, the Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, Esther Dede, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”
The family’s legal team, however, alleged that there were discrepancies regarding the involvement of NMS Labs, adding that the letterhead and address of the facility appeared on the toxicology report despite conflicting statements from the laboratory regarding their actual role in the testing process.
The protesters, however, demanded clarification on the involvement of the laboratory amidst conflicting reports and public concern over the integrity of the test results.
In a letter presented to NMS Labs and made available to PUNCH Online, the Justice for Mohbad group and the legal team urged the facility to provide an official statement regarding the toxicology tests conducted on Mohbad’s samples.
The letter read in part, “It has come to our attention that there are circulating reports suggesting that toxicology tests on samples of the late singer and songwriter, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, submitted by the Lagos State Government or other government entities from Nigeria, were conducted at your laboratory, NMS Labs.
“These reports have caused significant public concern and confusion regarding the integrity and source of the toxicology results as it also referred to ITSI Biosciences as a partner that concluded the toxicology test on behalf of NMS Labs. NewsNow, a widely read and respected tabloid in Nigeria, in its May 31, 2024, edition had claimed that US Labs Denies Conducting Poison Test on Mohbad. The tabloid referred to your esteemed organisation as the source of information and there is real evidence to confirm this.”
They also sought clarifications on whether the lab received samples from the Lagos State Government or any Nigerian government entity.
“Considering these circumstances, we kindly request that NMS Labs issue an official open letter or public statement clarifying that no toxicology test samples related to the late Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad) were received by NMS Labs from the Lagos State Government or any other government body from Nigeria and hat NMS Labs is not affiliated with any other laboratory that conducted toxicology tests on the aforementioned samples,” the statement read.
The legal team emphasised the importance of transparency and accuracy in the matter, urging NMS Labs to issue a public statement to dispel misinformation and maintain its reputation.
“An official statement from NMS Labs will greatly assist in dispelling any misinformation and ensuring that the public receives accurate and reliable information. It will also help maintain the integrity and reputation of your esteemed laboratory in the eyes of the global community.
“We understand the sensitivity and confidentiality of such matters and assure you that this request is made in the interest of transparency and justice. Your prompt response and cooperation in this matter would be highly appreciated,” the statement added.