20th November, 2012
The crisis rocking the estate of the late publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Alex Ibru, has moved to the court again as three of his children from his first marriage who are trustees of the family have dragged Mrs. Maiden Ibru before a Lagos High Court.
The claimants, Chief Felix Ibru, Miss Grace Ibru and Mrs. Mabel Okolie, nee Ibru, also joined in the suit the registrar, trustees of Omamo Trust and the Probate Registrar, Lagos High Court.
They are contesting the will left by Alex Ibru, claiming they are two. They submitted that the wills were filed at a Lagos High court, one in May, 1989 and the other was filed in July, 1992.
The claimants said they discovered that there is another will which was read on 31 October, 2012 where they became aware there was a third will.
They, therefore, prayed the court to declare that the last will and testament dated 8 September, 2011 made by Alexandra Ibru is void and of no effect and to declare that the one dated 6 July, 1992 is the last valid will of Alex Ibru.
The plaintiffs also prayed the court to order Mrs. Ibru to render an account of the estate of her late husband and for the court to award N10 million as the cost of the action.
Hearing in the matter commences next month.
—Akin Kuponiyi