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 Mohbadâs death.
This denial came in response to an inquiry by Punch, a Nigerian newspaper.
Previously, a pathologist testifying before the Coronerâs Court in November 2023 stated that an autopsy could not determine Mohbadâs cause of death due to decomposition of his corpse.
However, the state governmentâs 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 coronerâs 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 governmentâs claims, stating; âUnfortunately, 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.â
This denial raises questions about the accuracy of the state governmentâs claims and the circumstances surrounding Mohbadâs death.