By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
The autopsy report on the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has shown a possible drug reaction as the cause of his death.
Conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, the autopsy and toxicology tests indicated a fatal anaphylactic shock or drug reaction as potential causes.
Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening.
The hospital retrieved samples of Mohbad’s gastric contents, blood, bone marrow, liver, kidney, and lung for toxicology testing.
The report revealed traces of Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine used for treating allergies, colds, and anxiety, in his blood system. However, the concentration of the drug was not considered fatal, as first reported by The Cable.
The autopsy also found an injury on Mohbad’s right forearm and moderate to severe decomposition of his body, which was exhumed eight days after burial. No significant gross findings could be directly attributed to his death.
The report stated, “The body was neither autopsied nor embalmed before interment. Following the Order for Exhumation, the body was exhumed on 21/09/2023, eight days after the burial.
“Autopsy revealed moderate to marked decomposition of organs. Apart from the superficial injury on the right forearm, no significant gross finding could be attributed to death.”
Meanwhile, samples were taken for toxicology, to check for anaphylactic reactions, substances of abuse, drug overdose, or common household poisoning.
The report noted the importance of timely blood sampling to determine fatal anaphylactic shock, which was not possible due to the burial on the second day.
“Toxicology revealed positive findings of Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine; however, this concentration was not in a fatal or lethal range.
“The other analytics were unremarkable. In determining fatal anaphylactic shock, a blood sample needs to be taken as quickly as possible.” the report read.
“In the light of the foregoing, the cause of death could not be ascertained. However, the possibility of a fatal anaphylactic shock (drug reaction) could be considered in view of the absence of any significant post-mortem and toxicology findings.”
The New Diplomat recalls that Mohbad, a 27-year-old artist, who formerly signed to Naira Marley’s record label, Marlian Music, passed away on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances.
Accordingly, this sparked widespread debate, and led to the Lagos State Police Command establishing a 13-member special investigation team on September 18, 2023.
The incident resulted in the arrest of Naira Marley, Balogun Eletu (also known as Sam Larry), and others. Mohbad’s body was then exhumed on September 21, 2023, for further investigation.
In November 2023, the counsel for the Lagos State government, O. Akinde, informed the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu that a toxicology test was conducted in the United States.
However, the management of the National Medical Services Laboratories in the US State of Pennsylvania, refuted the claim that a toxicology test was conducted at its facility.
The autopsy report underscores the complexities and challenges in determining the exact cause of Mohbad’s untimely death.
