Family Feud Deepens: Alao-Akala’s First Daughter Demands DNA Test, Exhumation of Late Governor’s Remains
A heated legal drama is unfolding within the family of the late former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his first daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has approached an Ibadan High Court, seeking a court-ordered DNA test on seven individuals claiming to be the biological children of the deceased politician.
In a twist that has stunned observers, Alao-Aderinto is also asking the court to approve the exhumation of her father’s remains to facilitate the genetic testing. The request, filed before Justice Taiwo at the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, is captured in Motion Number I/443/2024.
Through her legal counsel, Oladipo Olasope, SAN, she is seeking a declaration that paternity tests be conducted on herself and seven named individuals—Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (a sitting federal lawmaker), Tabitha, and Olamikunle—at an accredited medical facility recognised by the court. The goal, according to her motion, is to scientifically determine their biological relationship with the late governor.
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As part of her plea, Alao-Aderinto also requested that the DNA results be filed under seal and submitted directly to the judge for open court pronouncement.
The court filing marks a new and dramatic escalation in what has become a long-simmering dispute over the vast, multi-billion-naira estate left behind by the late governor, who passed away intestate (without a will) on January 12, 2022.
Though whispers of discord had circulated quietly since his funeral, the matter erupted publicly in October 2022, when Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi—both associated with the late politician—reportedly secured Letters of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry without the knowledge or consent of the first daughter.
In a sworn affidavit supporting her motion, Alao-Aderinto alleged that the duo had attempted to sideline other biological heirs by seizing control of the estate, in clear violation of Nigeria’s inheritance laws. According to her, the decision to list only seven individuals as legal heirs, without confirming biological ties, raises serious concerns of fairness, legality, and motive.
“The estate in question is not only vast but also transnational,” her affidavit notes. “It includes high-value real estate in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, the UK, and the United States, as well as a luxury hotel in Ghana, assorted vehicles, and multiple foreign and local bank accounts.”
Her lawyer argued that excluding the first child and other possible heirs not only breaches moral expectations but could fracture the family and tarnish the legacy of the late governor, a once-powerful political figure in Oyo State and beyond.
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The legal filing also suggests that her intentions are not driven purely by personal gain but by a sense of justice—to ensure that all legitimate heirs, including unacknowledged children, aides who served with loyalty, and other extended family members, are given due consideration.
In a letter dated August 2023, made available to the public, Olasope SAN warned that the marginalisation of Alao-Aderinto could further polarise the family and ignite a broader crisis that might affect the late Alao-Akala’s enduring political reputation.
As the case unfolds, legal analysts are watching closely to see whether the court will grant the extraordinary request for exhumation—an action that could both resolve and intensify one of Nigeria’s most high-profile family inheritance disputes.