A fresh twist has emerged in the ongoing dispute between the family of the late Afrobeats star, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, and his widow, Omowunmi, as she openly defied a directive from the Aloba family instructing her to stop using the late singer’s surname.

The family, led by Omolayo Aloba and Joseph Aloba (Mohbad’s father), had on Wednesday issued a statement declaring that no valid statutory or traditional marriage was contracted between Mohbad and Wunmi Adebanjo, as the Yoruba customary marriage rites, including payment of bride price, were allegedly incomplete.

Citing this, the family directed her to cease using the Aloba surname on both public and private records pending the conclusion of a court-ordered DNA test to confirm the paternity of her son, Liam.

In apparent defiance, however, Wunmi took to Instagram on Thursday, November 13, where she boldly appended “Aloba” to her name in a post that read:

“Please patronize Wunmi Aloba oo, Liam Aloba needs to be taken care of.”

The post, widely interpreted as a public challenge to the family’s order, has further intensified tensions surrounding the late singer’s estate and paternity controversy.

The Aloba family also announced the appointment of three administrators—Ajewole Aloba, Rasaq Famuyiwa, and Alonge Aloba—to manage Mohbad’s assets, royalties, and intellectual property. They maintained that both Omowunmi and her son would only be recognized in the estate’s administration if the DNA test confirms Mohbad as Liam’s biological father.

Responding to the directive, Kabir Akingbolu, counsel to Mohbad’s widow, condemned the family’s position as “illegal, unconstitutional, and purely sentimental.”

“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.”

The lawyer also alleged that the family was stalling the DNA test, insisting that his client had always been ready to proceed.

“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 latest development deepens the rift between Mohbad’s widow and his family, as both sides continue to trade legal and emotional blows over paternity, inheritance, and legacy matters linked to the late singer.