Court Threatens Jail for Priest Over Sale of Deceased Judge’s Property
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari has issued a warning of possible imprisonment for Catholic priest Reverend Father Ezekiel John Awolumate and Joseph Asuku Bello, the Executive Director of Asset Management at NELMCO, over their alleged involvement in selling property belonging to the late Justice Moses Abu Bello, former President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the FCT.
In a Form 49 issued by the court’s Registrar, both men are required to “show cause why an order of committal should not be made” against them for purportedly violating a standing court order.
The legal action was initiated by Justice Bello’s daughter, Ann Eniyamire Bello, who claims she was deprived of her rightful share in her father’s estate. On October 14, the court had issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the sale of the late judge’s property, specifically targeting a site located at Plot No. 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (41 Panama Street), Maitama, Abuja.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the committal application, the plaintiff alleges that, despite the court’s restraining order, the defendants went ahead with the sale of the contested properties.
In her lawsuit, she contends that her father’s will specified that his assets were to be divided among his wife and eight children according to an 11.11 percent allocation for each. However, she claims that Father Awolumate allegedly altered this distribution to 4.16 percent, contrary to her father’s wishes.
The plaintiff is seeking to nullify the defendants’ actions and remove them from their roles as executors of her father’s estate. She is also requesting a court declaration affirming her entitlement to 11.11 percent of all her father’s assets, including stocks and shares. The case is set to be heard on October 28.
