Mohbad Case Takes Fresh Turn as VDM Revives DNA Questions, Releases New Audio and Raises Fresh Questions Over Royalties

The controversy surrounding the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has entered another intense phase after social commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) returned to the case with a fresh series of claims, recordings and questions.

Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, and the circumstances surrounding his death have continued to generate public debate, investigations and legal disputes.

Almost three years later, the case remains deeply emotional for Nigerians, with particular attention now focused on the paternity of Mohbad's son, Liam, the management of the singer's estate and royalties, and fresh material VDM says deserves closer scrutiny.

The DNA question is back at the centre

One of VDM's biggest recent talking points has been the long-running DNA dispute involving Liam.

A Lagos State Magistrate Court ordered DNA testing to determine whether Liam is biologically related to the late singer. In February 2026, the court approved three laboratories for the process: DNA Diagnostics Centre in Ohio, AlphaBiolabs in the UK and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited in London. The selection was intended to provide greater transparency by involving laboratories proposed by the parties and one selected independently through the court's welfare officer.

The process subsequently ran into complications.

Lawyers representing Mohbad's father raised concerns about the ability of two of the selected laboratories to conduct the required post-mortem testing on tissue from an embalmed body. Reports later stated that the two UK facilities indicated they could not carry out the required procedure.

That development has now become a major part of VDM's latest commentary.

VDM has questioned how laboratories that, according to the reports, could not perform the required procedure came to be part of the process in the first place.

He has also argued that the DNA test must be properly conducted rather than allowed to become another unresolved chapter in the Mohbad story.

Importantly, the laboratory dispute does not establish that anyone deliberately attempted to manipulate the DNA process. The court-approved process and subsequent disagreements remain matters for the court and the parties to resolve.

A new recording brings Mohbad's final period back into focus

VDM has also shared what he described as a recording of a conversation between Mohbad and his wife, Wunmi.

Reacting to the audio, VDM said he became emotional listening to the singer's voice and interpreted the conversation as evidence that Mohbad was deeply troubled.

The recording has generated renewed discussion online, with some listeners focusing on Mohbad's tone and words while others have urged caution about drawing conclusions from an audio recording without knowing its complete context.

The existence of the recording, by itself, does not establish the circumstances of Mohbad's death or prove wrongdoing by anyone involved.

That distinction is particularly important because the case remains highly sensitive and has generated numerous competing narratives since the singer's death.

VDM's earlier DNA campaign has returned with greater force

DNA testing has been part of VDM's involvement in the Mohbad story for years.

His calls for a paternity test involving Liam previously generated intense controversy, particularly because the issue became intertwined with his public disagreements with Wunmi and actress Iyabo Ojo.

In 2025, Iyabo Ojo publicly pushed back against VDM's allegations, including claims surrounding private communications and the DNA issue. She argued that private conversations should not be published without proper authority and said she was prepared to cooperate with relevant authorities.

The disagreement became one of the most contentious sideshows surrounding the wider Mohbad investigation.

Now, with the court-ordered DNA process still unresolved, VDM has returned to the subject with renewed intensity.

Questions over Mohbad's royalties

Another issue VDM has recently raised concerns the late singer's royalties and estate.

VDM has questioned claims surrounding the management and distribution of Mohbad's music earnings and has raised concerns about documents allegedly used to access royalties.

Those claims have not been established as fact, and they should not be confused with a judicial finding of fraud or wrongdoing.

The dispute nevertheless highlights an important issue that often becomes complicated when a successful artist dies young: who has legal authority to administer the estate, collect royalties and make financial decisions on behalf of the deceased and his beneficiaries?

Mohbad's financial affairs have already been the subject of public debate. In 2025, Naira Marley discussed royalty arrangements involving Mohbad in a documentary, adding another layer to the public conversation about the singer's finances.

What Nigerians are saying

The latest developments have once again divided public opinion.

On one side are Nigerians who believe VDM is asking questions that authorities should have answered much earlier. Supporters argue that the DNA controversy, the newly circulated audio and questions around Mohbad's estate justify continued scrutiny.

Some online commenters have also questioned why the paternity issue has remained unresolved nearly three years after Mohbad's death.

Others, however, have urged caution, arguing that social media investigations can easily turn allegations into perceived facts before they are tested by investigators or a court.

That concern has followed VDM's involvement in the case from the beginning.

In previous reactions to his Mohbad-related posts, some social media users praised his persistence and willingness to revisit unanswered questions, while others accused him of prolonging controversy and making claims that had not been sufficiently established.

The Mohbad story is still bigger than one man

One reason the story continues to resonate is that Mohbad's death became more than an entertainment story.

It became a national conversation about bullying, abuse of power, the Nigerian entertainment industry, police investigations, family disputes, social media accountability and the ability of ordinary citizens to obtain answers from institutions.

The Lagos State coroner's inquest previously concluded that Mohbad's death involved medical negligence and recommended prosecution of a nurse, according to reporting by PREMIUM TIMES.

But the public conversation has never completely settled.

Instead, every new document, recording or allegation has the potential to reopen old questions.

VDM's latest intervention has done exactly that.

What is established—and what remains an allegation?

At this stage, it is important to separate the documented developments from the claims being made online.

Established developments include:

• Mohbad died in September 2023.

• A legal dispute over Liam's paternity has continued.

• A Lagos court ordered DNA testing.

• Three overseas laboratories were selected as part of the court-supervised process.

• Concerns were subsequently raised about the capacity of two laboratories to conduct the required testing on an embalmed body.

• The DNA dispute remains unresolved.

Claims made by VDM—including allegations concerning the handling of documents, royalties, recordings and possible motives of individuals involved—remain claims unless independently established through documentary evidence, investigation or court findings.

That distinction matters because the people being discussed have reputational rights, just as Mohbad's family has a right to seek answers.

The question Nigerians still want answered

Almost three years after Mohbad's death, perhaps the most frustrating part of the story is how many questions remain open.

Was Liam's paternity properly established?

What will the eventual DNA test show?

What exactly happened during Mohbad's final days?

What evidence can conclusively establish the circumstances of his death?

And who is ultimately responsible for administering the singer's estate and royalties?

VDM says he intends to continue digging.

His critics want the claims subjected to evidence and due process.

And Mohbad's family continues to seek answers.

For now, the most important thing is that the latest claims should not replace formal investigation. If the new material contains genuine evidence, it should be examined by the appropriate authorities and presented through the legal process.

Because almost three years later, Nigerians are still waiting for the same thing they asked for from the beginning:

the truth about what happened to Mohbad.