Autopsy reveals drug reaction as possible cause of Mohbad’s death

The autopsy report on the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has revealed drug reaction as a possible cause of his death.

According to reports, the autopsy and toxicology test, which were conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, suggested the possibility of a fatal anaphylactic shock or drug reaction as the possible cause of Mohbad’s death.

Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

According to the report, the hospital retrieved samples of the late singer’s gastric contents, blood, bone marrow, liver, kidney, and lung for a toxicology test.

The report was said to have showed traces of Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine, in the late singer’s blood system.

Antihistamines are drugs used to treat allergies, stomach problems, colds, and anxiety, among other conditions.

The autopsy report was, however, said to have revealed that the concentration of the drug was not fatal or lethal to harm or lead to his death.

The anatomical and pathological tests also revealed an injury on Mohbad’s right forearm and moderate to severe decomposition of his body, which was exhumed eight days after burial.

However, no significant gross findings could be attributed to his death, according to the report.

The report reads, “It is noteworthy that the body neither had an autopsy nor embalmed prior to interment on the second day.

“Following the Order for Exhumation, the body was exhumed on 21/09/2023 (8 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.

“Against this background, samples were taken for toxicology. This is to determine if there was any anaphylactic reaction, substances of abuse, overdosage or common household poisoning.”

The autopsy report highlighted the importance of timely blood sampling to determine fatal anaphylactic shock, which was not possible in this case due to Mohbad’s burial on the second day.

It added, “Toxicology revealed positive findings of Diphenhydramine, an anti-histamine; 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.

“Unfortunately, this was prevented or made impossible by the burial of the deceased on the second day. 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.”

Mohbad, a 27-year-old artist formerly signed to Naira Marley’s record label, Marlian Music, passed away on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances that sparked widespread debate.

In response, the Lagos State Police Command established a 13-member special investigation team on September 18, 2023, to investigate the death.

The incident led to the arrest of Naira Marley, Balogun Eletu (also known as Sam Larry), and others.

Mohbad’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, to determine the cause of death.

The counsel for the Lagos state government, O. Akinde, told the Coroner’s Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of the state in November 2023 that a toxicology test was conducted in the United States.

However, in response to inquiries by PUNCH Online, the management of the National Medical Services Laboratories in Pennsylvania, United States of America, refuted the claim by the state government that a toxicology test was conducted at its facility.