Rev Father dragged to court over alleged improper sharing of ex- judge’s assets

A Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Ezekiel John has been dragged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja over an alleged improper sharing of assets of late Justice Moses Abubakar Bello.

A daughter of the former President of the Customary Court of Appeal in the FCT, Ann Eniyamire, who sued the priest alongside one other person, is praying the court to award a sum of N500M against the priest to be paid to her as exemplary damages.

Besides the request for payment of the huge sum, the aggrieved plaintiff is praying the Court for an order that she is entitled to 11.11 per cent of all her late father’s properties including estates.

Ann, the last child out of eight children of the late judge, told Justice M.A Madugu on Wednesday to grant her her entitlement in line with her late father’s will.

In the suit marked CV/667/2024, Eniyamire’s lawyer, Barrister Yahuza Mahraz contended that his client was shortchanged by the executor of her father’s will, Reverend Father Ezekiel John (first defendant ) and another.

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According to her deposition, her late father instructed that all his assets be shared amongst his wife and eight children following an 11.11 per cent sharing formula.

However, the claimant’s lawyer accused the defendant of adopting a sharing formula of 4.16 per cent.

The claimant, who has 38 reliefs, asked the court to reverse the alleged decision of the defendants, relieve them of their duties (as executors of her father’s will) and restore 11.11 per cent of her father’s properties to her.

Part of her prayers read,

“A declaration that the claimant is entitled to a share of 1/9 or 11.11 per cent of all her late father’s assets of shares and stocks.

“An order of this court directing the defendants to account, tender and hand all necessary documents with regards to administration, managing and distribution of the estates of the claimant’s late father to any appointed administrator general.

“A declaration that the claimant is entitled to 11.11%, being equivalent to 1/9 of shares concerning all her late father estates of mab farms and stocks listed in relief “25” above.”

“An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to pay to the claimant the sum of N500,000,000.00 (five hundred million naira) only as general damages.”

During the proceedings on Wednesday, Mahruz told the judge that hearing on his case was ripe.

But the defendant’s counsel, Adewale Adegboyega told the judge that he has filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit.

After listening to them, the judge fixed June 4 for a definite hearing.

He said, “The defendant’s notice of preliminary objection, and the claimant’s motions are hereby consolidated so that the preliminary objection and the instant suit will be taken together.

“However, I must state that today is not convenient for the court to hear the matter.
“Case adjourned to June 4, 2024 for hearing.”