The succession dispute surrounding the estate of former Oyo State governor, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, escalated on Friday after an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan barred key family members from carrying out any transactions on the late politician’s assets.
Those affected by the court’s interlocutory injunction include his daughter, Oluwatoyin Alao Aderinto, his widow, Kemi Alao-Akala, and Olamide Alabi, all of whom are connected to the administration of the estate.
The court ordered that they, along with their agents or representatives, must not sell, transfer, or enter into any form of agreement involving the disputed properties until the substantive suit is determined.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Aderinto, who is asking the court to intervene in the management of her late father’s estate, asserting her rights and interests as his first daughter.
In granting the injunction, the court stressed the need to preserve the estate and prevent actions that could undermine the interests of parties involved in the case.
Aderinto had alleged that some of the properties had already been sold without her consent, while efforts were ongoing to dispose of additional assets or enter joint venture arrangements tied to the estate.
She maintained that without immediate court intervention, continued transactions could cause irreversible harm to her claims and entitlements.
The proceedings took a fresh twist with the introduction of an application seeking DNA testing among individuals linked to the inheritance dispute, raising the stakes over issues of lineage and rightful claims.
The properties in contention
After listening to arguments from counsel, the court adjourned the matter to April 16, 2026, to deliver a ruling on the DNA request.
It also directed that the case be given accelerated hearing, signalling the urgency attached to resolving the high-profile family disagreement.
The dispute has attracted significant public attention due to the prominence of Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, who served as governor between 2007 and 2011 and remained influential in Oyo State politics until his passing.