Family Dispute Deepens as Late Gov. Alao-Akala’s Daughter Demands DNA Tests on Siblings

A major twist has emerged in the ongoing dispute over the estate of late Oyo State governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his first daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has approached the Oyo State High Court seeking a DNA test to determine the true paternity of seven individuals claiming to be his biological children.

Through her legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oladipo Olasope, Mrs. Alao-Aderinto filed a motion (No. 1/443/2024) before Justice Taiwo of Court 12 in Ibadan, requesting that a DNA test be conducted on herself and six others: Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (a current member of the House of Representatives), Tabitha, and Olamikunle. She also asked the court to order the exhumation of her late father’s remains from his mausoleum in Ogbomoso, to facilitate the DNA testing at a court-approved laboratory.

The application is the latest development in what has become a highly contentious and prolonged family feud over the late governor’s extensive estate. Alao-Akala passed away on January 12, 2022, and disagreements over the control and distribution of his assets have persisted since his burial. The conflict became public in October 2022 when two individuals, Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, obtained a Letter of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry without the knowledge or consent of Oluwatoyin, who is the eldest child.

In her affidavit, Oluwatoyin alleged that the defendants manipulated the facts to assume sole control of the estate, in violation of Nigeria’s intestate succession laws. She maintains that no consensus exists on the biological status of the listed heirs and argues that scientific clarification is necessary to ensure fairness in the distribution of the estate.

The assets in question include extensive properties in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, the UK, and the USA, as well as a luxury hotel in Ghana, multiple vehicles, and bank accounts reportedly holding large sums in naira, dollars, and pounds sterling.

Oluwatoyin emphasized that her legal action is rooted in a commitment to ensure that all rightful heirs, including extended family members, loyal aides of the late governor, and any previously unacknowledged children, are fairly considered. She described the current approach by the listed administrators as a “winner-takes-all” strategy that risks excluding deserving beneficiaries.

She has also requested that the results of the DNA tests be filed in a sealed envelope and submitted directly to the presiding judge for formal announcement in open court.

In a letter made public in August 2023, Oluwatoyin’s counsel warned that her exclusion from the administration of her father’s estate was both morally wrong and legally indefensible, cautioning that unresolved disputes could further divide the family and tarnish Alao-Akala’s legacy.