A deepening family dispute has emerged following the death of former Oyo State governor, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his eldest daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, has taken legal action to question the paternity of seven individuals claiming to be his biological children.
The matter is currently before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, where she is seeking a court order for DNA testing, and controversially, the exhumation of the late governor’s body to facilitate the tests.
In the suit, identified as Motion Number 1/443/2024 and filed before Justice Taiwo at Court 12, Ring Road, Ibadan, Mrs. Alao-Aderinto, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oladipo Olasope, has named several individuals in the motion. Those listed for the paternity tests include Olamide, Adebukola, Olamipo, Olamiju (currently a serving member of the House of Representatives), Tabitha, and Olamikunle. She has requested that the DNA testing be carried out at an accredited facility approved by the court to determine their biological ties to the late politician conclusively.
The legal move has stirred public interest, not only due to the prominence of the Alao-Akala family but also because of the sensitive nature of the request to exhume the late governor’s remains. The development signals rising tensions within the family and introduces a new chapter in the legal and personal complexities surrounding the estate and legacy of the former governor.
As part of her request, Oluwatoyin is also seeking a court order for the exhumation of her father’s remains from the mausoleum in his Ogbomoso country home to conduct the paternity test
She further asked that the test results be submitted in a sealed envelope and delivered directly to the presiding judge for pronouncement in open court.
This latest application marks a dramatic turn in the ongoing and bitter family feud over the vast estate of the late politician, who died without a will on January 12, 2022.
The dispute, which had been brewing quietly since his burial, became public in October 2022 when Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, believed to be one of his daughters, obtained a Letter of Administration from the Oyo State Probate Registry without the knowledge or consent of Oluwatoyin, the first child.
The estate in dispute is reportedly vast, encompassing numerous properties in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as a five-star hotel in Ghana, a fleet of vehicles, and multiple bank accounts holding hundreds of millions of naira, dollars, and pounds sterling.
Oluwatoyin’s stance on her late father’s estate is driven by a firm commitment to ensuring that all rightful individuals—ranging from nuclear and extended family members to loyal aides of the former governor and potentially undiscovered children—are fairly considered. This stands in contrast to the approach adopted by the defendants, whom she accuses of pursuing a “winner takes all” strategy.
According to her counsel, Oluwatoyin challenges the listing of only seven individuals as legal heirs by the current estate administrators. She argues that there is no established consensus regarding their paternity and that the selective inclusion and exclusion of potential beneficiaries casts serious doubt on the fairness and legitimacy of the process. Consequently, she is seeking judicial intervention through scientific verification.
It will be recalled that in a publicly released letter dated August 2023, Oluwatoyin’s counsel, Oladipo Olasope SAN, warned that excluding his client—the first daughter of the late Alao-Akala—not only breaches moral standards but also violates her legal rights. He cautioned that without resolution, the conflict could deepen divisions within the family and tarnish the political legacy of the former governor.