The two wives of late Major Ge
The two wives of late Major General Abdullahi Iyanda Muraina and their children have taken themselves to an Abuja court over the huge estate he left behind.
Muraina who died in a Dubai hospital last year September, after falling into coma, left behind a multi-billion Naira estate that included event centres, shopping plazas, houses and plots of land in Abuja and his home state of Oyo.
The 64 year-old general died intestate, triggering the legal squabble, between his two wives, the first one, Alhaja Peju Muraina and the second, Ann Usiagu-Muraina and their children.
Ann Usiagu-Muraina and three of her children are the plaintiffs in the case filed before the Upper Area Court, Gudu in Abuja. Abibat Adepeju Muraina and three others are the defendants.
Ann, who owns a Microfinance bank FORTEM MFI is challenging the intestate distribution of Muraina’s properties to his heirs in accordance with Islamic law.
Her lawyers, A.I. Arotiowa and Jeph C.Njikonye, a senior advocate of Nigeria have now placed a caveat emptor on the properties, including six vehicles, three of which are bullet proof.
Before Muraina died, his first wife Alhaja Peju, was in charge of the popular Mauve Event Centre in Ibadan, on Ring Road. It is the biggest event centre in the city.
Her control of the property is now being challenged as it is listed among the properties in contention.
Others are Mauve Lounge, also at Ring Road in Ibadan, Smart Bridge Plaza at Utako Abuja, Pathfield Plaza in Gwarinpa, also in Abuja.
Also in contention are the houses at 21 Mohammed Irma Street in highbrow Asokoro District of Abuja, B26 Palm Estate, Maitama Abuja, 17 Congo Street, Sun City Abuja, 19 Congo Street, also in Sun City Estate.
Listed in court papers are also the houses at 11 Barcelona Street, Sun City, Benue Street, which has no number, and Oka Akoko Close in Garki Abuja.
The wives and the children also want the court ruling on the ownership of Dilay Farms in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Yalid Petroleum Fuel station on Abuja-Keffi Expressway, houses at 3 Onikoko Estate, Ikoloba in Ibadan, 11B Mahogany Street, Forest Hill Estate Jericho Ibadan and a storey building at 16 Awolowo Avenue, Bodega in Ibadan.
Other assets in contention are plots of land: acres of land at Akinajo Village in Oyo State, Plot 55 Phase 1 Stage lll “abode New Town Corporation in Ibadan and Block V Plot 9B, New Government Reservation Area, Jericho Ibadan.
The six vehicles listed in the caveat emptor notice are bullet proof 2013 Toyota Avalon, Bulletproof 2013 Lexus LX570, Ford Explorer SUV 2013, Toyota 14 Seater Hummer Bus and 2015 Ford Truck.
Ann Usiagu-Muraina’s lawyers warned that the Gudu court has taken jurisdiction over all the assets listed in the public notice.
They warned that any anyone dealing with any institution, entity or individual, with a view to acquisition of any of the properties, does so at his own risk.
No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit.
The properties are listed as:
House at 21, Mohammed Isma street, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja
Mauve lounge, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo state
Mauve 21 Event Centre, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo state
Smart Bridge Plaza, Utako, Abuja
Pathfield Plaza, Gwarinpa, Abuja
House B26, Palm Estate, Maitama, Abuja
17, Congo Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja
19, Congo Street, Sun City Estate, Abuja
House at 11, Barcelona Street, Suncity Estate, Abuja
House at Benue Street, Suncity Estate, Abuja
Dilay Farms, Keffi, Nasarawa
House at Oka Akoko Close, Garki, Abuja
Yalid Petroleum, Fuel Station along Abuja-Keffi expressway
No. 3, Onikoko Estate, opposite SSG’s House, Ikolaba, Ibadan, Oyo state
11B, Mahogany Street, Forest Hill Estate, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo state
Acres of land at Akinajo Village via Arunlogun area, Oyo state
Block V, Plot 98, New Government Reservation Area, Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo state
Plot 55, Phase 1, Stage III, Ajoda New Town Corporation, Ibadan, Oyo state
A storey building at 16, Awolowo Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo state
The vehicles are listed as:
Toyota Avalon 2013 (bulletproof)
Lexus LX 570 2013 (bulletproof)
Ford explorer 2013 SUV
Toyota Hiace 14-seater hummer bus
2015 Ford truck
One Toyota Corolla
“The upper area court acquires jurisdiction, power, and control over the above-enumerated properties, pending the final determination and the outcome of the suit.
“In view of the above, the general public is hereby warned that anyone dealing with any institution, entity or individual with a view to acquisition of any interest or right with respect to above enumerated properties does so at their own risk,” the counsels said.
Muraina before his voluntarily retirement after 35 years as a Major General, he held various roles in the army.
He was decorated with Forces Service, FSS, Meritorious Service Star, MSS, Distinguished Service Star, DSS, and Grand Service Star, GSS. He was also honoured with the general service medal of honour, command medal of honour, and field command medal of honour, among others.
Muraina was also a one-time president of the Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
