A significant legal battle has erupted within the family of the late former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his first daughter, Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has approached the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan. Her suit seeks a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to ascertain the true paternity of seven individuals who claim to be the biological children of the deceased. In an unprecedented move, Alao-Aderinto is also requesting a court order for the exhumation of the late governor’s body from his mausoleum in Ogbomoso, specifically for the purpose of facilitating these DNA tests.

The suit, filed before Justice Taiwo of Court 12 at the State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, under Motion Number I/443/2024, sees the claimant, represented by her lawyer, Oladipo Olasope, praying the court to mandate that the DNA tests be conducted on herself and the listed individuals: Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (a serving member of the House of Representatives), Tabitha, and Olamikunle. She insists that these tests must be carried out at a court-approved and accredited laboratory to conclusively determine their biological connection to the late Alao-Akala. Furthermore, Alao-Aderinto has pleaded that the results of these critical tests be filed in a sealed envelope and delivered directly to the presiding judge for pronouncement in open court, ensuring transparency and judicial oversight.

This fresh application represents the latest and arguably most dramatic twist in a prolonged and increasingly acrimonious dispute over the vast estate left behind by the former governor, who died intestate on January 12, 2022. While the family crisis had been silently simmering, it burst into the public domain in October 2022. This occurred when Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, identified as daughters of the deceased, obtained a “Letter of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry” without the knowledge or consent of Oluwatoyin, who is the universally recognized first child. Alao-Aderinto vehemently described this action as a deliberate and unlawful exclusion, asserting that it directly contravenes applicable laws guiding intestate succession in Nigeria.

In an affidavit and accompanying exhibits submitted to the court, Oluwatoyin has accused the duo of manipulating facts to gain sole control over the substantial estate of the late politician. This, she argues, is despite the confirmed existence of other biological children and legitimate heirs. The comprehensive estate in question is reported to comprise multiple properties strategically located in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also includes a five-star hotel situated in Ghana, a fleet of vehicles, and numerous bank accounts holding hundreds of millions in naira, dollars, and pounds sterling.

Oluwatoyin’s stance is rooted in her profound desire to ensure fairness and equity for all legitimate heirs. Her objective is to guarantee that every individual, including nuclear and extended family members, loyal aides who served the former governor diligently, and any yet-to-be-identified children, are appropriately considered and provided for. She strongly maintains that the defendants have adopted a “winner-takes-all” approach in managing the estate, a method she deems unacceptable, especially given the lack of consensus on the paternity of some of the individuals listed as legal heirs. This lack of consensus on paternity is a key driver for her seeking judicial intervention through scientific means.

Her counsel had previously issued a letter in August 2023, warning that the exclusion of the claimant, as the first daughter, violated both legal rights and moral standards. The letter underscored that an unresolved continuation of this dispute could profoundly deepen divisions within the family and irrevocably tarnish the political legacy of the late governor. Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former police officer, served as deputy governor and subsequently as governor of Oyo State from 2006 to 2011. He was widely recognized for his grassroots popularity, particularly in Ogbomoso and across Oyo State, until his passing on January 12, 2022, at the age of 71.