A family dispute over the estate of late Dr Tanko Baba Abdullahi has taken a disturbing turn, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly getting involved. The heirs of the late doctor have raised an alarm over the EFCC's probe, claiming it has led to the harassment of those involved in the court-supervised administration of the estate. According to the petition submitted by some of the heirs to the National Assembly, a court-appointed valuer has been detained and a purchaser of one of the estate properties has also been taken into custody.
The dispute began when Dr Abdullahi died in April 2022, leaving behind properties and assets to be shared among his beneficiaries. Initially, family members and traditional authorities attempted to resolve the administration of the estate within the family, but disagreements persisted. The dispute eventually found its way to the Upper Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja, which assumed a supervisory role in the administration of the estate. A court-appointed firm, Hassan and Hassan Consulting, was engaged to value properties, while beneficiaries were given opportunities to exercise their right of first refusal before some properties were offered for sale to third parties.
The petitioners, concerned sons and daughters of the late Dr Abdullahi, have alleged that the EFCC's investigation has left participants in the estate process worried about their safety and the fate of transactions they believed were being conducted under the court's authority. At the centre of their complaint is Abdullahi, one of the heirs and an officer of the EFCC. The petitioners allege that Abdullahi's position within the commission has been used in connection with the prolonged family dispute.
The petitioners have approached the House Committee on EFCC, asking it to intervene and refer the matter to EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for an impartial review. They want the National Assembly to examine whether the EFCC's investigative powers are being deployed independently or have become entangled in the inheritance dispute. The EFCC has, however, declined to comment on the issue, with the agency's operative mentioned in the petition, Hamza Abdullahi, and the agency's spokesperson, unavailable for comment.
According to the petition, problems started when the court-appointed valuer and at least one purchaser became subjects of an EFCC investigation. They allege that the individuals were detained, their homes searched, and their phones seized for forensic examination before they were released on bail. The development has sparked fears among the heirs, who are now worried about their safety and the fate of the estate.
The court-supervised arrangement had been accepted by a substantial number of heirs, who participated in the process either personally or through their lawyers. However, the EFCC's probe has raised concerns about the independence of the investigative agency and its role in the inheritance dispute. The petitioners are seeking an impartial review of the matter, hoping that the National Assembly and the EFCC chairman will intervene to resolve the issue.
The EFCC's involvement in the inheritance dispute has raised questions about the agency's role in such matters. The heirs are seeking clarity on whether the EFCC's investigative powers are being used to settle a family dispute or to genuinely investigate any alleged crimes. The outcome of the National Assembly's intervention and the EFCC chairman's review will be crucial in determining the fate of the estate and the safety of those involved in its administration.
Key points
- The EFCC's probe has led to the harassment of those involved in the court-supervised administration of the estate.
- The heirs have alleged that the EFCC's investigation has become entangled in the inheritance dispute.
- The National Assembly has been urged to intervene and refer the matter to the EFCC chairman for an impartial review.
