In the hallowed political heartland of Oyo State, where power and tradition intertwine, a dramatic family conflict has spilled from the private chambers of mourning into the public glare of courtroom drama
At the centre of the shocking drama sits the formidable estate of the late former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala—a sprawling portfolio of prime real estate across Nigeria, international holdings stretching from London to the United States, and a five-star hotel in Ghana.
But it is even more disheartening that what began as a quiet probate matter has snowballed into a headline-grabbing legal battle, pitting sibling against sibling, and raising profound questions about legacy, transparency, and the delicate veil between public service and private wealth.
Leading the charge is Oluwatoyin Alao Aderinto, the first daughter of the departed ex-policeman turned political titan. In suit I/443/2024 filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, Aderinto is seeking what she termed as her “legal and equitable entitlement” as principal heir, expressing grave concerns over the administration of her father’s vast assets.
Joined as defendants are Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, the widow of the late governor and a named executor, alongside Olamide Alabi, another daughter of the deceased who serves as an administrator. The claimant alleges that some assets have already been disposed of without her knowledge or consent, and further moves allegedly under consideration include additional disposals or joint-venture arrangements that could impact her rightful share.
Court documents reflect an injunction component, with the presiding court restraining the wife and the other administrator from selling, disposing, leasing, or otherwise transacting near the estate’s holdings until the orderly resolution of the case.
The proceedings also show that Aderinto is seeking, among other remedies, court-sanctioned DNA tests on siblings and the exhumation of her father’s remains, as a means of verifying paternity amid acrimonious claims of an incomplete probate process.
Observers note that the matter has intensified the specimen of an ongoing familial dispute that has hovered over the governor’s legacy since his passing in 2022.
As the dust continues to rise, one can only hope that wisdom, restraint and a sense of history will guide the family back from the brink. For in the end, the greatest tribute to the late politician will not be the size of his estate, but the ability of those he left behind to protect his name from the corrosive weight of discord.
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