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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A bitter inheritance tussle has erupted in the family of the late former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Saidu Gidado Idris, with some of his children accusing their stepmother of denying them access to their father’s property and allegedly disobeying court orders.
Speaking on behalf of his siblings in an interview, one of the late Idris’ sons, Saidu, alleged that since their father’s death in 2017, they had been barred from entering his Abuja residence to take inventory of his belongings, as prescribed under Islamic law.
“We, the seven siblings from our late mother’s side, have not been allowed into our father’s room to see his Will or property documents. This is contrary to Islamic injunctions. It is clear to us that there is injustice and inhumanity here,” he claimed.
According to Saidu, a court ruling awarded the late SGF’s Abuja residence at No. 2 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, to their stepmother, while he and his siblings were allocated a house at No. 7 Coronation Crescent, Kaduna, as well as two houses at Hanwa GRA, Zaria.
Although they initially appealed the judgment, he said, they later withdrew it. The same ruling, he added, directed their stepmother to pay them ₦181,292,455 to complement the value of the properties.
“However, she has refused to make the payment for over two years. Each time the case comes up in court, it is adjourned for one or two months, with no meaningful progress from the presiding judge, let alone consideration of other properties that remain undistributed,” he said.
The siblings also alleged that the two houses at Hanwa GRA, Zaria, which the court awarded to them were later sold by their stepmother in collaboration with a late uncle.
Efforts to resolve the matter outside court also collapsed. Saidu disclosed that he contacted former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who in turn involved the Emir of Zazzau to set up a committee. But, according to him, the process was biased and inconclusive.
“They put more emphasis on our farmland along Kaduna–Zaria road, which they’re yet to recover.
The Upper Sharia Court in Kaduna reportedly ruled in 2020 that the stepmother should pay the children the compensation, but the complainants said she has yet to comply.
“Our father was a just and gentle man. He couldn’t have died without leaving a Will. We believe it is locked in the room we have been denied access to. We want Nigerians to know the truth because this injustice is painful. We need prayers, sympathy, and intervention. It appears our stepmother is above the law,” Saidu said.
The late Idris had three wives, one deceased, one divorced, and the surviving widow now at the centre of the controversy.
As at the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the stepmother for her reaction were unsuccessful.
