USA laboratory denies claims of conducting toxicology test on Mohbad

The National Medical Services Laboratories (NMS Labs) in Pennsylvania, USA, has denied claims made by the Lagos State Government that a toxicology test was conducted at their facility to determine the cause of singer Mohbad’s death.

This denial came in response to an inquiry by Punch, a Nigerian newspaper.

Previously, a pathologist testifying before the Coroner’s Court in November 2023 stated that an autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to decomposition of his corpse.

However, the state government’s counsel, O. Akinde, claimed that a toxicology test was conducted in the United States.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also reiterated this claim in a live telephone call with an Abuja-based online program in February 2024, specifying that the test was conducted at NMS Labs in Pennsylvania.

Despite these claims, the pathologist appearing before the coroner’s court revealed that the autopsy could not determine the cause of death due to decomposition.

Punch then contacted NMS Labs to verify if a toxicology test was indeed conducted at their facility.

In a response dated May 17, Esther Dede, Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, refuted the state government’s claims, stating; “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient. To maintain our compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations, we would need authorization from the submitting agency.”

This denial raises questions about the accuracy of the state government’s claims and the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.