The family of the late singer Ilerioluwa 'Mohbad' Aloba has asked for the planned DNA test on his son, Liam, to be put on hold until it receives more information about how the samples will be handled.

What the family wants

In a statement signed by family head Samuel Aloba on Thursday, 29 October 2026, the family asked for the identity, address and accreditation of the laboratory in the United States that will analyse the samples. It also asked whether the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre would carry out the test itself or only collect samples to be sent abroad, and requested clear procedures to protect the samples on their journey. The family asked that all parties be given proper notice and that the court give further directions if needed.

Not opposing the test

The family said it was not against the paternity test and was not claiming that anything improper had happened. It said it only wanted transparency and safeguards to prevent any possible mishandling. The test had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, 31 October, at a hospital in Yaba, Lagos. It is not yet clear whether it will go ahead as planned.

Background

Mohbad died on 12 September 2023 at the age of 27, and his death sparked nationwide protests and calls for justice. The paternity of his son has since been the subject of a bitter dispute between his father, Joseph Aloba, and his widow, Omowunmi. A Lagos court ordered in May 2026 that the test be carried out by the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre.

What happens next

The widow's camp had not responded to the latest demand at the time of the report. Further court directions may be needed if the test is delayed.

Nigerian music star D'Banj has opened up about the loss of his son in an emotional post that touched many of his fans.

What he wrote

In an Instagram post shared on Thursday, 29 October 2026, the singer told his late son, Daniel, that he missed him and said he could not imagine what the boy's mother had been through. He wrote that the family had reached a safe space in their healing, alongside his wife, Lineo, and their other children. He thanked his son for teaching him what life really means, said he believed the boy was proud of the family, and asked him to greet his late uncle Femi. The post included several photos of father and son together.

Background

D'Banj's son, Daniel Oyebanjo III, drowned in June 2018 at the family home in Lagos when he was 13 months old. The tragedy shocked the entertainment industry, and the singer and his wife received messages of support from fans and colleagues at the time. D'Banj, one of the pioneers of modern Nigerian pop music, has spoken in the past about how the loss changed his life and his faith.

How people reacted

Fans and fellow celebrities flooded the comments with prayers and messages of comfort, praising the singer for speaking openly about grief and healing.

Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has fired back at a man who mocked her age over the title of her new single, 'African Baddie', in an exchange that quickly went viral.

What happened

On Thursday, 29 October 2026, a social media user reportedly questioned why a woman of 40 would call herself a 'baddie' and suggested she was not serious. Replying in a single post, the singer corrected him, saying she is actually 46, listed her achievements and described herself as unbothered. She asked what exactly his problem was and used the same post to promote her new release.

The new single

'African Baddie' is scheduled for release on Friday, 30 October. The singer has long presented herself as Africa's 'bad girl', and the title builds on that image.

Background

Tiwa Savage is one of Africa's most successful female artists. She has won major awards, signed with Universal Music Group and performed at the coronation concert of King Charles III in 2023. Her career spans more than a decade of hit songs, and she has frequently spoken about ageism and the pressure on women in the music industry.

How people reacted

Fans rallied behind the singer, praising her confidence and saying age should not limit how women express themselves. Others joked that the critic had given her free promotion a day before the song's release.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly admitted that artificial intelligence-generated photos found their way into Nigeria's preliminary voter register, and has blamed some of its own registration officers.

What was said

Speaking on Arise Television, in comments reported on Friday, 30 October 2026, INEC's Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, said some registration officers who had login access to the registration system introduced irregularities. He said some of the photos were AI-generated while others came from poor-quality registration, and that the problem was found in states across the country. He reportedly said the commission knew what the officers did and how they did it, but did not know why.

How it was found

Bayode said INEC detected the problem by checking the database with its Automated Biometric Identification System, which compares faces and fingerprints to find duplicates and suspicious entries. He did not say how many records were affected.

Background

INEC published the preliminary register online on 26 October, and social media users quickly shared screenshots of suspicious photos, including some from Edo State, as well as complaints about duplicate entries and missing names. INEC said on 27 October that it was examining and correcting the records, and that the online register was not final.

What happens next

The commission says the register is still going through verification and correction, and that the final register is due to be certified on 15 December 2026. Bayode said INEC is working under pressure to finish the clean-up within the legal deadline. Opposition parties and civil society groups have called for a thorough audit before the January 2027 elections.