Shehu Malami wife drags family members to court over inheritance

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

Hajia As’ma’u Malami, the wife of late Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and Usmanu Danfodio descendant, Alhaji Shehu Malami, along with other children has dragged son and daughter of her late husband to Court over inheritance Will.

Plaintiffs are children of late Malami who included Mustapha, Sadiq, Amina, Zainab and A’isha while Respondents in the suit were also deceased children Aminu and Hafsat Malami.

During sitting on Tuesday, the presiding Judge,  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 plaintiff 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 also in Abuja, farm along with house located at Mambila 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 Guzafe in Abuja were sold by the deceased himself while the farm and house in Mambila 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 on 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, reserved questions till the Plaintiff Counsel completed his submissions arguing 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 continues hearing and ordered to serving a court summon to Mambila properties manager, Mr Goodluck Amuba, who supervised the sells to appear.