From Olalekan Awojodu, Abuja
A Gudu Upper Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has adjourned till February 7, 2023 a property tussle between former Clerks to the National Assembly, (CNA), Alhaji Ataba Sani-Omolori and his siblings over the estate of their late father, a former Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Omolori.
Omolori, it will be recalled, was dragged before a Gudu Upper Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over alleged inability to account for the family estate left behind by their father.
Two of his siblings, Nasir Sani-Omolori and Buhari Sani-Omolori, plaintiffs in the matter instituted the suit praying the court to make Omolori account for the property.
The plaintiffs, through their counsel, A.I. Mariri, in the court documents with suit number CV/114/2022l, prayed the court to invite the former NASS Clerk to account for the estate of their late father, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Omolori, who was a traditional ruler of Ebira land for 40 years. They accused their brother, Alhaji Ataba Sani-Omolori (Respondent/Defendant) of selling off parts of the property in Maitama, Katampe and Mabushi Districts. They asked the court for equitable distribution of the property among all the 73 children of their late father.
At the proceeding on Monday, the Judge, Ado Mukhtar pronounced the new date of adjournment after adopting the preliminary objections and counter to the preliminary objection from the plaintiff’s counsel.
Chris Okoye, counsel to Ataba Omolori had earlier insisted that the plaintiffs do not have the locus standi to file the suit, arguing that proper parties in the suit were not before the court.
But countering him in his arguments at the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Abdulahi Awwal Muhammed told the court that his clients did not erred in filing the case, saying the court has the jurisdiction to also hear it.
“In Islamic law, you don’t talk about jurisdiction and as expected, the other party’s lawyer admitted that the court indeed has jurisdiction and now, the judge has fixed the February 7 for ruling in the matter,” Muhammed said
The late Alhaji Muhammad Sani Omolori died leaving behind wives and 73 children out of which are the Applicants and the 2nd Respondent/Defendant (Alhaji Ataba Sani Omolori), who are also Muslims.
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