Ann Bello, daughter of the late Justice Moses Bello, former President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has demanded a DNA test for all the children of the deceased jurist.

In a notice issued on February 26 through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Miss Bello gave the executors of her late father’s will 14 days to comply with her request. She warned that failure to do so would result in criminal proceedings against them.

Miss Bello cited a recent judgment by Justice Mohammed Zubairu of the FCT High Court in Kurudu, which declared the codicil to her father’s will invalid. 

She argued that this ruling reaffirmed her stance that the original will remains the only legally binding document governing the late jurist’s estate.

Miss Bello had previously challenged the executors in court, contesting the distribution of her father’s properties. 

In suit, marked: CV/667/2024, she listed Reverend Father Ezekiel Awolumate and Christ the King Catholic Church, Okene Parish, as defendants.  

She claimed that the first defendant (Rev. Awolumate) had applied a sharing formula of 4.16% instead of the 11.11% stipulated by her late father. 

However, in the notice addressed to Rev. Awolumate, the parish priest of Christ the King Catholic Church, Okene, Miss Bello insisted that DNA tests must be conducted as a precondition for inheritance eligibility under the will.  

It reads: “We are counsel to Ann E. Bello, one of the beneficiaries and heirs of the late Honourable Justice Abu Moses Bello, hereafter referred to as ‘our client.’  

“It is the instruction of our client that after the death and the reading of the will of her late father, you, in conjunction with other members of the family of Mrs. Mary O. Bello, her stepmother, conspired to intentionally disinherit her from her rightful inheritance.  

“Following the court’s judgment on February 5, 2025, by Honourable Justice Zubairu, which declared the codicil as legally invalid, the last will remains the only binding document.

“In accordance with paragraph 5(a)(i) of the last will of Honourable Justice Abu Moses Bello, a DNA test must be conducted for Joseph Asuku Bello and six others. This test is a mandatory condition for their inheritance. Should they fail to comply, they must forfeit all assigned monies, properties, and assets.  

“We hereby serve you a 14-day notice to carry out the DNA test or provide a formal response outlining steps to comply with the will.  

“Take notice that we will oppose any sale, transfer, or dealings with any assets under the will.  

“Take further notice that failure to comply will result in criminal charges against you and any other affected parties under the provisions of the will.”