Court Approves Overseas DNA Tests to Protect Mohbad’s Son’s Right to Identity and Parental Recognition
The Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos, has approved three overseas laboratories to conduct DNA testing to determine the paternity of Liam, son of late singer Mohbad. The decision, announced after proceedings, authorises one laboratory in the United States and two in the United Kingdom.
Each party selected a laboratory, while the court appointed an independent centre to ensure neutrality. The matter was adjourned to April 7, 2026, for the supervised collection of samples, which will be monitored by welfare officers.
Beyond the legal contest between adults, the case raises a deeper child protection issue. At its core is a child’s right to identity and to parental care. The Child Rights Act 2003 guarantees every child the right to a name, family life and, as far as possible, to know and be cared for by his or her parents. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child reinforces this principle, recognising a child’s right to preserve identity, including family relations.
When questions of paternity arise, they are not merely matters of inheritance or public debate. They directly affect a child’s legal status, emotional stability and access to support.
Unresolved disputes can leave a child in uncertainty, exposed to stigma or denied full parental recognition. Depriving a child of a parent, whether through denial of responsibility or prolonged legal conflict, can amount to a violation of that child’s rights.
By approving independent and internationally recognised laboratories, the court’s decision places the child’s welfare at the centre of the process.
A transparent, supervised DNA test protects the integrity of the outcome and helps safeguard Liam’s right to identity, dignity and parental care. In child protection matters, clarity is not about controversy. It is about securing a child’s future.
