High Court Warns Catholic Priest with Imprisonment Over Alleged Unauthorized Sale of Late Judge’s Estate

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari has issued a stern warning to Catholic priest Reverend Father Ezekiel John Awolumate and Joseph Asuku Bello, an executive director at NELMCO, threatening them with potential jail time. The court alleges their involvement in the unauthorized sale of property belonging to the late Justice Moses Abu Bello, former President of the FCT Customary Court of Appeal.

A court document, Form 49, issued by the registrar, directs both Rev. Father Awolumate and Bello to appear and “show cause why order of committal should not be made” for allegedly disregarding an existing court order.

The legal dispute was initiated by Ann Eniyamire Bello, daughter of the deceased judge, who claims that Awolumate and the King Catholic Church of Okene Parish failed to honor her father’s will, leaving her under-compensated. According to her suit, the court had previously issued an interim injunction on October 14, prohibiting the sale of Justice Bello’s property, specifically Plot 763, Cadastral Zone A6 (No. 41 Panama Street) in Maitama, Abuja. However, Bello alleges that the defendants proceeded with transactions involving these assets, disregarding the court’s directive.

In her affidavit, Bello claims her father’s will stipulated an 11.11% division of his assets among his wife and eight children. She accuses Awolumate of altering the formula to 4.16%, contrary to her father’s wishes, and requests the court to nullify these changes, remove Awolumate from his role as executor, and declare her rightful share as 11.11% of her father’s estate, including stocks and shares.

The case is set for hearing on October 28.