Widow, Children Challenge Court’s Jurisdiction In Estate Dispute

The widow of the late Chief Stephen Obaloluwa Oyetade, Mrs Beatrice Oyetade, and her children have urged the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja to dismiss a suit contesting the administration of her late husband’s estate, asserting that the court lacks jurisdiction.

Mrs Oyetade, represented by her lawyer, George Oyeniyi, along with her children, Obafemi Oyetade, Dr Abigail Oyebola, and Daniel Oyetade, filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection, claiming that the cause of action arose in Osun State and had already been decided by an Osun State High Court.

The respondents argued that the new suit, marked ID/8279/FPM/2025, is an abuse of court process, noting that the Osun High Court previously dismissed a similar claim brought by the claimants.

The earlier case was initiated by the claimants, Obayemi Oyetade and Mrs Grace Yemisi Oyetade, to revoke the Letters of Administration granted to the Osun State Administrator-General and Public Trustee.

However, the Osun State High Court, in its judgment delivered on 14 June 2023, upheld the authority of the Administrator-General.

According to the respondents, the Administrator-General was initially granted Letters of Administration on 26 February 2019, which were later re-sealed at the Lagos Probate Registry in August 2022 to include properties in Lagos, following the payment of estate duties.

They further alleged that the claimants deliberately initiated the suit in Lagos to retain control of some properties in Ogudu, Lagos, and have allegedly failed to serve the originating court processes since 8 April 2025.

The respondents described the action as a calculated attempt to deny them access to their late father’s estate, which they maintained had already been lawfully administered.

“We are not violent and do not intend to use force to take over the property in the possession of the claimants, but they have continued to abuse court processes to remain in possession of our father’s estate,” they stated in their written address before the court.

The case is presently before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, where the respondents are seeking its dismissal on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and abuse of court process.