Family Members Of Late Sokoto Prince, Shehu Malami, Fight Over Inheritance

Hajiya Asmau Malami, wife of late Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Shehu Malami, alongside her children, has dragged the son and daughter of her late husband to court over inheritance Will.

Hajiya Asmau and her children resorted to litigation after intervention from royal family members and associates in resolving the matters amicably failed.

The plaintiffs are children of late Malami who included Mustapha, Sadiq, Amina, Zainab and A’isha while the respondents in the suit are Aminu and Hafsat Malami.

At the sitting on Tuesday, the presiding Judge, Alhaji Nasiru Jibdawa, admitted in exhibits the two Will documents left behind by the late Malami which were tendered through a witness, Alhaji Abdulkadir Bello.

The plaintiffs’ Counsel, Mr Nasiru Na’ige, prayed the court for explanation from the witness, Bello, on the whereabouts of some properties located in Maitama Abuja, plots of land also in Abuja, farm and house located at Mambilla in Taraba state.

The witness, Bello, who is one of the property administrators appointed by a Court in Abuja, said the plots belonging to the deceased Malami located at Asokoro and Guzape in Abuja were sold by the deceased himself while the farm and house in Mambilla were also sold after his death.

The witness who is also a relative to the deceased told the court that the house in Maitama Abuja and Alkammawa in Sokoto were part of the Will left behind by the deceased.

Bello further provided the breakdown of late Malami’s properties located in Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states along with shares domiciled in different companies with the present market values and bank accounts.

He added that process was in progress to recover and take ownership of a house located in Cairo, Egypt which also belong to the late Ambassador.

Respondents’ Counsel, Mr Almustapha Abubakar, argued that the two Wills left behind by the late Malami were properly headed, contains desirable explanations and duly signed as well as attested by lawful authority.

Abubakar said members of property administrators assigned by the court were the deceased wife, and biological children whom were part of the suit.

After listening to different parties, the Judge, Khadi Jibdawa adjourned the case to April 26, 2024 for continued hearing and ordered the service of a court summon to Mambilla Properties manager, Mr Goodluck Amuba, who supervised the sales, to appear before the court.