One year after the mysterious death of rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as MohBad, head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, has shared the difficulties in securing pathologists for the case.
He told The Punch that the investigation is proceeding through various channels, including a second autopsy and toxicology test, as directed by the court.
According to Odumosu, forensic experts have sent the specimen abroad for analysis, opting for a European lab rather than the USA due to the controversies surrounding the initial autopsy.
The court is also expected to rule on objections raised by Wunmi regarding the DNA test on October 18.
“Presently, we are approaching the issue from different angles. The second autopsy and toxicology test is being conducted as directed by the court. We hope this will shed more light on the circumstances leading to the death of MohBad. Presently, the specimen has been taken abroad by forensic experts for the toxicology examination.
“Given the controversy generated by the first autopsy, the forensic experts in their professional estimation believed the laboratory in Europe would be better. So they avoided the USA altogether. The DNA test too. Wunmi brought preliminary objection on some flimsy grounds. We have argued the objections and the ruling is reserved by the court for October 18,” Odumosu revealed.
Securing pathologists has proven challenging as Odumosu disclosed that attempts to engage four different experts from locations such as Kaduna and Maiduguri were unsuccessful, as they declined due to the influence of powerful figures involved in the case.
Odumosu said, “Getting pathologists to attend to the matter was a bit tough. We got in touch with four pathologists: one from Kaduna, another from Maiduguri and one other place but they said powerful individuals were interested in the matter and declined to take it on.
“We also consulted those in America. However, because of the controversy trailing the first autopsy, we decided to boycott America altogether. For those who agreed to help us now, we thank them. The way to justice is always strewn with thorns. But we have the firm belief we shall get there.”
Odumosu noted that the decision to enlist a forensic pathologist from the northern region was driven by concerns over potential compromises in the process.
“We don’t want anybody to compromise the process. We suspected that the delay of transferring the previous specimen to America took a long time. We also suspected government intervention and institutional laxity on the part of the police, so we decided to look elsewhere to do what we wanted. But we eventually got somebody,” he added.
Speaking on the key challenges the legal team has faced in seeking justice for Mohbad’s family, Odumosu said, “The biggest challenge we have had so far is from the Nigerian Police. Apart from the shoddy investigation that is clear even to the novice, they have refused to cooperate with us on certain levels.
“It is an open secret that the court granted the Aloba family an order to conduct another autopsy and toxicology test after the government-assisted toxicology test led to inconclusiveness. We sent a letter to the police informing them of the order of the court and the need for them to release documents and exhibits to the forensic experts.
“They didn’t acknowledge nor release the documents to the forensic pathologists. We sent a reminder to them and still, they ignored it. This sort of attitude does not commend the police to the populace.”