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From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
The widow of late Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Shehu Malami, Hajia Asma’u Malami has sued her stepson, Aminu Shehu Fodio before a Lower Shariah Court in Sokoto, over an attempt to evict her from house she lived with her late husband for forty-five years.
The Respondent has been at loggerhead with the Plaintiff in his moves to humilate the widow from the family house she lives despite several emissaries offered by the late father’s associates, relatives as well as Islamic Clerics .
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 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 located in Asokoro and Guzape 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 further provided the breakdown of 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 a process was in progress to recover and take ownership of a house located in Cairo, Egypt which also belonged to the late Ambassador.
The plaintiffs’ Counsel, Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige, prayed the court for explanation from the witness on the whereabouts of some properties located in Maitama, Abuja, plots also in Abuja, farm along with houses located at Mambila in Taraba state.
Respondents’ Counsel, Almustapha Abubakar, reserved questions till the Plaintiff Counsel completed his submissions.
Abubakar argued that two Wills left behind by the late Malami were properly headed, contained desirable explanations and duly signed as well as attested by lawful authority.
He added that members of 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 adjourned the case to April 26, 2024, for continued hearing and ordered serving a court summons to Mambila properties manager, Mr Goodluck Amuba, who supervised the sale to appear.
It could be recalled that the late Sarkin Sudan Shehu Malami was a Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, a descendent of Usmanu Dan fodio, a traditional title holder in the Sokoto Caliphate and a great businessman.
All emissaries offered by the late father’s associates, relatives as well as Islamic Clerics to amicably resolve the matter out of court proved abortive, as the stepson, Aminu Shehu Fodio was only interested in humiliating his stepmother out of the family house she lives for over 45 years until her husband’s death.
