Billionaire Akindele Estate: Court adjourns will dispute to N
A key witness in the legal battle over the estate of late Nigerian businessman, Chief Labode Oladimeji Akindele, has been questioned over the preparation of a disputed 2017 Will at the Lagos State High Court.
The witness, Mr Soji Awogbade, a senior lawyer and former partner at AALEX, was cross-examined on Monday, November 2, by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Kemi Pinheiro.
The case was filed by Oladipo Alade Akindele, the deceased’s first son, who is challenging the authenticity and validity of the Will.
During the court session before Justice T. A. Anjorin-Ajose, Awogbade maintained that the Will was prepared after he personally consulted with the late businessman.
However, Pinheiro questioned him about how the deceased gave his instructions, the corrections made to the document and how the final version was approved.
The lawyer also asked about the availability of records showing the consultations between Awogbade and the late businessman.
The questions were raised in view of Awogbade’s description of Chief Akindele as a careful businessman who paid close attention to important documents.
The court also examined the relationship between the family protocol mentioned in the 2017 Will and a Family Constitution dated October 14, 2018.
Questions were also raised about the difference between executors appointed in the Will and trustees expected to serve under the family’s broader governance arrangements.
Dispute over family constitution
Oladipo is challenging the Will on several grounds, including alleged problems with how it was signed and the absence of a Family Protocol referred to in the document.
He argues that the missing document was important to carrying out some of the instructions contained in the Will.
However, the defendants have rejected the allegations, insisting that the Will was properly signed.
They also said the document, known as the Sir (Chief) Olabode Oladimeji Akindele Family Constitution, was signed by the deceased, some of his children and another family member between October and November 2018.
The defendants maintain that the Family Constitution was properly included in the Will and did not need to be physically attached to it.
Estate under government administration
The dispute has also led to an earlier court order placing the late businessman’s estate under the management of the Lagos State Administrator-General until the case is decided.
Chief Akindele died on June 29, 2020, at the age of 88. During his lifetime, he built business interests in maritime services, fishing, finance, real estate and international investments.
His business interests included Fairgate Group Limited, Fairgate Estates Limited, Fairgate Investments Limited and Madandola Group.
The inheritance dispute has also extended to the United Kingdom, where related court proceedings are ongoing over a Grant of Probate issued by the Probate Registry of England and Wales.
The claimant is asking the court to declare the disputed Will invalid, stop its use in managing the estate and order an account of the deceased’s assets, income and expenses since his death.
The defendants have denied trying to unlawfully deny him his inheritance.
Pinheiro is leading the claimant’s legal team alongside Mayowa Owolabi of Pistis Partners LLP. The defendants are represented by Ebun Sofunde, SAN, of Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore.
The court has adjourned the case until November 19 for the continuation of Awogbade’s cross-examination.