An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has summoned Kemi Alao-Akala widow of a former governor of the state Adebayo Alao-Akala.
She and her co-defendant Olamide Alabi were summoned by the court following a suit filed over the alleged illegal obtaining of a letter of administration over the ex-governor’s estate without the consent of the claimant Toyin Alao-Aderinto, who claims to be Alao-Akala’s first child.
They are to appear before the court within 30 days.
PUNCH reports that it obtained the write of summons on Saturday.
The court gave the order while granting an ex-parte motion on an order of substituted service brought before it by the claimant’s lawyer Dipo Olasope against the duo over alleged mismanagement of the estate by the defendants and their privies.
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.”
Alao-Aderinto earlier wrote a letter dated August 16, 2023, through her lawyer and 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 October 6, 2022.
Alao-Aderinto’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 Alao-Aderinto 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, Alao-Aderinto is asking the institution to declare that the defendants have no right whatsoever to deny her bona fide right(s), interest, and entitlement to Alao-Akala’s estate.
