Late Shehu Malami’s wife drags stepson, stepdaughter to court over inheritance

Hajia Asma’u Malami, the wife of late Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Shehu Malami, has dragged 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 presiding Judge, Alkali Nasiru Jibdawa, admitted in exhibits the two Wills left behind by the late Malami, which were tendered through a witness, Alhaji Abdulkadir Bello.

The plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige, prayed the court for an explanation from the witness on the whereabouts of some properties located in Maitama, Abuja; plots also in Abuja; a farm; and a house located in Mambila, 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 to the deceased, told the court that the houses in Maitama, Abuja, and Alkammawa in Sokoto metropolis were covered by the will left behind by the deceased.

Bello further provided a breakdown of the 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 the process was in progress to recover and take ownership of a house located in Cairo, Egypt, which also belonged to the late Ambassador.

The’ respondent's counsel, Mr. Almustapha Abubakar, reserved questions until the plaintiff's counsel completed his submissions.

Abubakar argued that the two wills left behind by the late Malami were properly headed, contained desirable explanations, and were duly signed as well as attested by lawful authority.

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

After listening to different parties, the judge, Alkali Jibdawa, adjourned the case to April 26, 2024, for a continued hearing and ordered serving a court summons to Mambila Properties Manager, Mr. Goodluck Amuba, who supervised the sale, to appear.

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