Alao-Akala’s daughter seeks late governor’s exhumation, DNA tests for siblings

A major legal drama has erupted in the family of late former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his first daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has filed a suit at the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, seeking the exhumation of his body and DNA testing for seven individuals claiming to be his children.

The application, filed before Justice K.B. Taiwo of Court 12, Ring Road, under Motion Number I/443/2024, requests the court to approve DNA tests for herself and six others—Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (a current member of the House of Representatives), Tabitha, and Olamikunle. She also wants the DNA samples analyzed at a court-approved facility, with the results submitted in a sealed envelope directly to the judge for pronouncement in open court.

Alao-Aderinto, through her counsel, Oladipo Olasope (SAN), is also demanding the exhumation of the late governor’s remains from his mausoleum in Ogbomoso to obtain a DNA sample for the tests.

The suit marks a significant escalation in a long-running dispute over the vast estate left behind by Alao-Akala, who passed away intestate on January 12, 2022. According to court documents, the conflict intensified in October 2022 when Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi allegedly obtained Letters of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry without informing or securing the consent of Alao-Aderinto, who is legally recognized as the governor’s first child.

In her affidavit, Alao-Aderinto accused the duo of manipulating facts to assume control of the estate while excluding her and other possible heirs. Her legal team argues that this exclusion violates Nigeria’s intestate succession laws and is an attempt to monopolize the estate.

The contested estate is reportedly vast, with properties in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, Ghana, the UK, and the US. Assets include a five-star hotel in Ghana, a fleet of luxury vehicles, and several high-value bank accounts in multiple currencies.

Alao-Aderinto insists that her legal action is not motivated by greed, but by a desire to ensure fairness and transparency in the sharing of her father’s legacy. She emphasized that rightful heirs—whether direct descendants, extended family members, or loyal aides—should be recognized and included.

In a prior letter dated August 2023, her counsel warned that sidelining the first daughter undermined both moral and legal norms and could irreparably divide the family, tarnishing the legacy of a man revered for his populist leadership and commitment to grassroots development.