14th April, 2015
Henry Ojelu
The magistrate handling the trial of two children of the late Lagos business mogul, Chief Abdul Rasak Olajide Sanusi, Mrs Adeola Adebayo has alleged that her life is being threatened by the defendants.
The two brothers, Suleimon and Kehinde Sanusi, who are battling with their siblings over the estate of their late father, are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and contempt of court.
The criminal charges stem from the bitter tussle which has been raging in the family since the demise of their father.
Following a petition filed by one of the siblings against their two elder brothers, the police last year formally filed a criminal charge against the duo.
Although the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, their trial initially could not proceed as the Lagos State Directorate for Public Prosecution, DPP, had signified interest on the matter and sought adjournment pending a legal advice on the charge.
When the matter came up on Monday, the DPP requested for further adjournment so as to make some minor adjustments to the legal advice.
Before granting the request for adjournment, the presiding magistrate, Mrs Adebayo raised the alarm that her life was being threatened by the defendants.
She claimed that the duo had written several petitions against her and personally forwarded same to her residential address.
The magistrate said the petitions contained details of people who the defendant claimed had been visiting her home over the matter.
Wondering how the defendants knew her residential address, Mrs Adebayo stated that she personally felt threatened by the development and warned that the duo should be held responsible if anything happened to her.
“I feel threatened by this development. I don’t know how the defendants obtained my residential address. If anything should happen to me, the world should know those to hold responsible,” she said.
She subsequently adjourned the matter till 29 April.
The late Alhaji Sanusi, until his death over 17 years ago, bequeathed his properties and companies comprising Sanusi Brothers Nigeria Ltd, Sanusi Steels Industries Ltd, Sanusi Robber Works Ltd, Nigeria Industries Products Agencies and Global Stars Nigeria Ltd, (formerly Sambros International Ltd) to at least 22 of his children.
Also included in the will prepared by the late Chief F.R.A Williams were Alhaji Sanusi’s five wives, Alhaja Suwebath, Alhaja Simbiat, Alhaja Adikatu, Alhaja Rasheedat and Alhaja Musilat. Since the execution of the will, the Sanusi siblings have been engaged in family war over the management of their father’s estate.
Some of the children have alleged gross mismanagement of the estate by the executors.
In a petition dated October 2, 2014, and addressed to the Police AIG, Zone 2 Headquarters, one of the late Sanusi’s children, Bimbo Sanusi Lawal, accused her brother, Suleimon Sanusi of unlawfully taking over the administration of the father’s estate.
Bimbo also alleged that his brother misappropriated over N2 billion while using fake mandates and unknown companies to clear cheques drawn in the name of their late father and his companies. The police are still investigating the matter.
Besides the petition, over 13 cases filed by different siblings are also currently pending before various courts in the State High Court.
In one of the suits, three of the siblings, Suleimon Sanusi, Mrs Risikat Olusanya and Mrs Ganiyat Sanusi Amoro approached a Lagos High Court for an order compelling the executors of their father’s will to sell off his properties and share the proceeds among them.
The court in a ruling in the suit, ordered the executors to resume joint management of the estate, and submit a report of the stewardship of the estate.
The court also ordered one of the siblings Suleimon to surrender all documents in his custody for the estate to which he had flagrantly refused and is being also tried for contempt.