Court Freezes Alao-Akala’s Assets as Children, Widow Clash Over Multi-Billion Naira Estate

A High Court sitting in Ibadan has ordered that all properties belonging to the late former Governor of Oyo State, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, be preserved pending the determination of a suit over the administration of his estate.

The court directed that none of the assets—spread across Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, and overseas—should be sold, transferred, or otherwise tampered with until the matter is resolved.
The order followed an application by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, the first daughter of the deceased, who is challenging the manner in which the estate is being managed.

In the suit, Oluwatoyin is contesting the authority of the widow, Kemi Alao-Akala, and Olamide Alabi, who were granted Letters of Administration over the estate, alleging that the process excluded her and other beneficiaries.
She further told the court that there were indications some of the assets were already being disposed of without her consent, prompting her to seek urgent judicial intervention.

Extensive Assets Listed

Details presented before the court, as reflected in filings attached to the suit, show that the estate comprises a wide range of high-value assets.

Prominent among them is the late governor’s Bodija residence in Ibadan, alongside several other houses and guest lodges within the city. The filings also reference properties in Ogbomoso, including residential buildings and expansive landed holdings tied to the family’s roots.
In Lagos, the estate includes prime properties in Ikoyi and Ikeja, while in Abuja, both residential and commercial assets form part of the portfolio.

The documents further indicate the existence of large-scale farmland running into thousands of acres, as well as undeveloped plots across Oyo State. In addition, there are references to overseas assets in the United States and the United Kingdom, underscoring the scale of the estate now under dispute.

All the listed assets are covered by the court’s restraining order.

Parties and Expanding Dispute

Among those joined in the suit are other children of the late governor, including Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamijuwonlo, Tabitha, and Olamikunle, alongside the widow and co-administrator.
However, the dispute has gone beyond questions of administration.
Documents attached to the case show that the claimant is also seeking a DNA test to determine the paternity of some individuals listed as children of the deceased. The application includes a request that could involve the exhumation of the late governor’s remains if approved by the court.

The court has fixed April 16, 2026 to hear and rule on aspects of the application relating to the DNA request, marking a significant next phase in the proceedings.

The matter has been adjourned for further hearing, with the court maintaining the status quo on all assets pending its final determination.
The case continues to draw attention due to the size of the estate and the deepening dispute between members of the late governor’s family over its control and distribution.