Asma’u Malami, the wife of the late Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Shehu Malami, has filed a lawsuit against her stepson and stepdaughter over her husband’s will.

The other plaintiffs are Ms Malami’s children, Mustapha, Sadiq, Amina, Zainab, and A’isha.

The respondents are also deceased children Aminu and Hafsat.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the presiding judge, Alkali Nasiru Jibdawa, admitted in exhibits the two wills left behind by Mr Malami, which were tendered through a witness, Abdulkadir Bello.

The plaintiffs’ counsel, Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige, asked the court for an explanation from the witness on the whereabouts of some properties located in Maitama, Abuja, plots also in Abuja, and a farm along with a house located at Mambila in Taraba.

Mr Bello, who told the court that he is one of the property administrators appointed by a court in Abuja, said the plots belonging to the deceased Malami, located in Asokoro and Guzafe in Abuja, were sold by the deceased. 

He added that a farm and house in Mambila were sold after his death.

The witness, who is also a relative of the deceased, told the court that the house in Maitama Abuja and Alkammawa in Sokoto metropolis were covered by the will left behind by the deceased.

Mr Bello further provided a breakdown of Mr Malami’s property located in Kaduna, Kano, and Sokoto, along with shares domiciled in different companies with present market values and bank accounts.

He added that a process was underway to recover and take ownership of a house in Cairo, Egypt, that also belonged to the late ambassador.

Respondents’ counsel, Almustapha Abubakar, reserved questions till the plaintiffs’ counsel completed his submissions.

Mr Abubakar argued that two wills left behind by the deceased were properly headed, contained desirable explanations, and were duly signed and attested by lawful authority.

He added that members of property administrators assigned by the court were the deceased’s wife and biological children who were part of the suit.

After listening to the parties, the judge adjourned the case to April 26, 2024, for continued hearing and ordered serving a court summons to Mambila properties manager, Mr Goodluck Amuba, who supervised the sales, to appear.

Mr Malami was a knight of the British Empire, a respected and prominent industrialist who served Nigeria in different capacities, holder of Officer of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) as well as former traditional ruler, Sarkin Sudan, district head of Wurno in Sokoto.

(NAN)