Mohbad’s widow defies Aloba family, insists on using husband’s surname

Mohbad’s widow defies Aloba family, insists on using husband’s surname

Lagos, Nov. 13 — The widow of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has disregarded a directive from the Aloba family ordering her to stop using their surname pending the outcome of a court-ordered DNA test.

In a statement jointly signed by the head of the family, Omolayo Aloba, and Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, the family maintained that no statutory or customary marriage existed between the deceased and his partner, Omowunmi Adebanjo.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no statutory or customary marriage was contracted between the late Mohbad and Wunmi Adebanjo, as the required Yoruba traditional rites (payment of bride price) were never completed,” the family stated.

The family also announced the appointment of three administrators — Ajewole Aloba, Rasaq Famuyiwa, and Alonge Aloba — to oversee the late singer’s assets, royalties, and intellectual property.

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They further said that if the DNA result confirms that Mohbad fathered Liam, the child in question, both mother and child would be recognised within the estate administration process.

However, in what appeared to be a response to the family’s directive, Wunmi took to Instagram on Thursday, November 13, to reaffirm her use of the Aloba name.

“Please patronize Wunmi Aloba oo, Liam Aloba needs to be taken care of,” she wrote in an Instagram story.

Meanwhile, Wunmi’s legal representative, Kabir Akingbolu, has dismissed the Aloba family’s order as illegal and sentimental, insisting that his client has a constitutional right to retain her husband’s surname.

“Nobody can stop her from bearing Aloba. That is the name given to her by her husband, and under the law, she has every right to keep it,” Akingbolu said.
“The Supreme Court, in the case of Ojukwu vs Ojukwu, held that no one has a monopoly over a surname. There are thousands of Alobas in the world. They are the ones running from the DNA. We have always been ready — even if it’s today or tomorrow, we’ll be there,” he added.

The development adds a new twist to the ongoing family dispute over paternity, inheritance, and the late singer’s estate, following Mohbad’s death in September 2023.

 

Mohbad’s widow defies Aloba family, insists on using husband’s surname