Asma’u Malami, widow of Nigeria’s former ambassador to South Africa Shehu Malami, has sued her stepson and stepdaughter to court over her husband’s will.
Other plaintiffs are Mustapha, Sadiq, Amina, Zainab and A’isha, children of the late Malami and Asma’u.
The respondents are also deceased children Aminu and Hafsat.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the judge Alkali Jibdawa admitted in exhibits the two wills left behind by the late Malami which were tendered through a witness Abdulkadir Bello.
The plaintiffs’ counsel Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige prayed the court for explanation from the witness on the whereabouts of some property located in Maitama, Abuja, plots also in Abuja, farm along with house located at Mambila in Taraba State.
The witness 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 while a farm and house in Mambila were also 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.
Bello further provided the breakdown of late Malami’s property located in Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto along with shares domiciled in different companies with the present market values and bank accounts.
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He added that the process had begun to recover and take ownership of a house located in Cairo, Egypt which also belongs to the late ambassador.
The respondents’ counsel Almustapha Abubakar reserved questions till the plaintiff’s counsel completed his submissions.
Abubakar argued that two wills left behind by the late Malami were properly headed, contains desirable explainations and duly signed as well as 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 different parties, Jibdawa adjourned the case to April 26, 2024, for continued hearing and ordered that a court surmon should be given to Mambila property manager Goodluck Amuba who supervised the sales.
Malami was a knight of British Empire. He held the national honour of Officer of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR). He was also the district head of Wurno in Sokoto State.
