The widow of late Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Shehu Malami, (who died in December 2022) 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 the house she lived with her late husband for 45 years.
The Respondent has been at loggerheads with the Plaintiff over moves to eject the widow from the family house where she lives despite pleadings by his late father’s associates, relatives as well as Islamic clerics.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the presiding Judge, Alkali Nasiru Jibdawa, admitted as exhibits the two Wills left behind by the late Ambassador Shehu Malami, which were tendered through a witness, Alhaji Abdulkadir Bello.
The witness, who told the court that he is one of the property administrators appointed by a Court in Abuja, said the plots of land belonging to the deceased located in Asokoro and Guzape in Abuja, were sold by the deceased while a farm and house in Mambilla, Taraba State, were also sold after his death.
The witness, who is also a relative to the deceased diplomat, 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 is part of the properties left behind by the late Ambassador.
The plaintiff’s Counsel, Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige, prayed the court for explanation from the witness on the whereabouts of some properties located in Maitama District of Abuja, plots of land also in Abuja, a farm along with houses located at Mambilla in Taraba state.
The respondent’s counsel, Almustapha Abubakar argued that the 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’s 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 of the house to appear before the court.
The late Sarkin Sudan of Sokoto, late Ambassador Shehu Malami, was one-time Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, a descendant of Usmanu Dan fodio. He was a Knight of the British Empire, a respected and prominent Industrialist who served Nigeria in different capacities, holder of Officer of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) as well as former traditional ruler, Sarkin Sudan, district head of Wurno in Sokoto state and a great businessman. All entreaties by his associates, relatives as well as Islamic Clerics to amicably resolve the matter out of court have proved abortive, as the stepson, Aminu Shehu Fodio, who is the Respondent in the matter, insisted on ejecting his stepmother from the family house where she lived for over 45 years until her husband’s death.