Alao-Akala’s Daughter Seeks DNA Test, Exhumation Over Disputed Heirs in Family Estate Row

A fresh legal twist has emerged in the ongoing dispute over the estate of former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his first daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has filed a suit at the Oyo State High Court seeking a DNA test to verify the paternity of seven individuals claiming to be children of the late politician.

In the motion filed before Justice Taiwo of Court 12, Ring Road, Ibadan, with reference number I/443/2024, Mrs. Alao-Aderinto, through her legal counsel, Chief Oladipo Olasope (SAN), is asking the court to order DNA testing for herself and the seven named individuals—Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (a current member of the House of Representatives), Tabitha, and Olamikunle. She also requested that the tests be conducted in a certified, court-approved laboratory.

Significantly, the application includes a request for the exhumation of the late governor’s remains from the mausoleum at his Ogbomoso residence to obtain samples necessary for the paternity tests. Alao-Aderinto also urged the court to ensure the results are submitted in sealed envelopes and delivered directly to the presiding judge for declaration in open court.

The suit represents the latest escalation in what has become a deeply divisive and emotionally charged inheritance battle within the Alao-Akala family. The controversy traces back to October 2022, months after the former governor died intestate on January 12, 2022. At the heart of the dispute is the administration of his substantial estate, which includes properties in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ghana—among them, a five-star hotel, vehicles, and multiple bank accounts reportedly holding funds in naira, dollars, and pounds sterling.

According to Mrs. Alao-Aderinto, the trouble began when two individuals—Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi—allegedly secured a Letter of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry without informing or including her, the deceased’s first child. She contends that this act amounts to unlawful exclusion and violates the laws governing inheritance for individuals who die without a will.

In her affidavit and supporting exhibits, Alao-Aderinto accuses the two of “manipulating facts” to take control of the estate and ignoring other legitimate heirs, including family members and aides of the late governor who had served him loyally. She argues that only a fair, inclusive process anchored in scientific verification can ensure justice and prevent further fragmentation of the family.

Her lawyer, Chief Olasope (SAN), in an earlier letter dated August 2023, warned that the ongoing exclusion of his client not only violates her legal entitlements but also threatens the unity of the family and the legacy of the late governor, a revered political figure in Oyo State.