US lab denies conducting Mohbad's toxicology test
The National Medical Services Laboratories (NMS Labs) in Pennsylvania, USA, has denied conducting a toxicology test on late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
This clarification comes amid conflicting reports regarding the investigation into the cause of the singer’s death.
According to the Punch, NMS Labs refuted claims that they had performed any toxicology tests to determine Mohbad’s cause of death. The denial was issued after Punch reached out to the laboratory for confirmation.
Earlier reports indicated that a pathologist told the Coroner’s Court on May 15, 2024, that an autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the advanced decomposition of his body. When the Coroner’s Court convened in Ikorodu in November 2023, state attorney Omotoso Akinde stated that no toxicology test, which is typically part of an autopsy, had been performed.
Omotoso, speaking during a live program, mentioned that the state DNA and Forensic Centre handles such cases with the help of affiliate centers in the US, including NMS Labs in Pennsylvania. However, NMS Labs has since denied this claim.
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In an email dated May 17, 2024, Esther Dede, a Client Services Associate in the Forensics Division of NMS Labs, stated, "Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient. To maintain our compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations, we would need authorization from the submitting agency."
This denial adds another layer of complexity to the investigation into Mohbad’s death, raising further questions about the handling and communication of forensic testing in the case.
