ALL is certainly not well in the homestead of the former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Christopher Alao-Akala, as one of his children has instigated a court process against his widow, compelling an Oyo State High Court to issue a summon.
Toyin Alao-Aderinto, the Claimant in the suit, says she is unhappy with the fact Kemi Alao-Akala, widow of a former governor, and Olamide Alabi illegally obtained a letter of administration over the ex-governor’s estate without her consent being Alao-Akala’s first child.
The summons read, “You are hereby commanded that within 30 days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of this service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in action at the instance of the claimant.”
Toyin had, through her counsel, Dipo Olasope, earlier written a letter dated 16 August 2023, addressed to the duo of Kemi and Alabi, about the letter of administration, which was allegedly granted to the defendants by the probate registry of the state High Court on 6 October 2022.
Toyin’s letter read, “Toyin, who is the first child of late Alao-Akala, has been sidelined in the scheme of things. Olamide, her mother and two other siblings, including Olamiju Alao-Akala, who is a serving House of Representatives member, Kemi, who was first lady during the tenure of Alao-Akala as governor and her son, Olamikunle, are working in unison to appropriate the estate of the deceased among the six of them, thereby disenfranchising other legitimate children of Alao-Akala from benefiting from the estate of their late father.”
A 21-day notice was issued to the defendants to amend the letter of administration to accommodate the Claimant and correct other anomalies therein, while another seven days’ notice was issued as required by law before the Claimant approached the court to seek legal redress.
Among her prayers before the court, Toyin is asking the court to declare that the defendants have no right whatsoever to deny her bona fide right(s), interest, and entitlement to her late father’s estate.
The court has consequently summoned Kemi Alao-Akala and the co-defendant, Olamide Alabi, to come and explain their side of the story. They are to appear before the court within 30 days.
Chief Alao-Akala was born on 3 June 1950 and died on 12 January 2022. He was a politician and police officer who served as the governor of Oyo State in 2006, and again from 2007 to 2011. He was the candidate of the Action Democratic Party in the 2019 Oyo State gubernatorial election.
Eighteen-Eleven Media