Sunday, June 19, 2011
[size=14pt]Late FRA Williams' four sons fight over father's N26b estate gets messier[/size]

The 6yr-old rift among the four sons of late legal icon, Chief Folarin, Rotimi Abiola Williams, over how to share his vast estate is getting messier.

What is at stake among Ladi, Kayode, Folarin and Tokunbo is how to share the N26billion estate their father left behind when he died six years ago. As at press time, there were several cases in court. Several petitions have also been lodged with the EFCC and the police have been brought in to help solve the unending disputes among the brothers.



So bad has the situation become that the four brothers who are from same father and mother don't talk and they have been divided into two different camps. Ladi and Kayode are on one side, while Folarin and Tokunbo are on the other side. Their four wives don't also talk, so also the grandchildren, many of whom are lawyers.

Equally pathetic is the fact that the kids of Ladi and Kayode who are lawyers can't practice in their grand father's law firm because the firm is being controlled by their uncle, Folarin.

What has made the crisis messy is the recent report by the police on the ongoing case concerning the brothers. The case has to do with an allegation of conspiracy and forgery of documents of a company called United Investments Limited, the family company the late FRA set up before he died, under which he put all his investments. What led to the police investigation was Folarin and Tokunbo's complaint about alleged forgery of documents of the family's company.

Details of the report obtained in court and pleaded as an affidavit filed in court by the police has further pitched the four brother against each other. The office of the Inspector General of Police was dragged into the dispute late last year when the IG was served with a process of contempt proceedings dating Oct 6 2010 but served on Feb 4, 2011, issued from the federal high court.

Long report, let me stop here, too messy! After all said and done, everyone will leave this earth the way they came, with nothing!


http://lindaikeji..com/2011/06/late-fra-williams-four-sons-fight-over.html

Show of shame

sad, quite sad. money they say is the root of all evil.

wonder if their mother is still alive, and what are views are on this?

, yeah, I think the same shitte happned with 'Ekene Dili Chukwu' and his estate.

Money brings out the worst in people.

Mind you the 'Papa' should have put in place a 'legally tight will' with an estate that large.

is ekene dili chukwu dead?

9dynasty:

'brother from same mother' what if they were say step brothers-na wa ooh

that one go for be 3rd world war.

snowdrops:

is ekene dili chukwu dead?

Yeah,

man thats sad.

N26B?? Men! I never the men was that wealthy

snowdrops:

man thats sad.

Trouble brews over Ekene Dili Chukwu’s estate

Barely two years after the demise of Nnewi-born business magnate, Chief Augustine Ilodibe, founder and, until his death, chief executive officer of Ekene Dili Chukwu Nigeria Limited, some of his children are now at daggers-drawn over the management of his business empire, a situation that has led to litigations and alleged violence.

According to Odera, the first son by the third wife of late Chief Ilodibe, who led Daily Sun into the alleged happenings within the family, all is not well over the sharing of the vast estate left behind by the colossal transport magnate.

Odera who has sent an SOS message to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, insists that Ekene, the first son by the second wife, is allegedly intimidating directors of Ekene Dili Chukwu companies with force, including vigilantes and the police (a situation which the police authorities insist they have yet to authenticate), even as he is said to be claiming that it is he who is the chairman of the companies. Odera is also alleging that his half brother is bent on running the companies to the exclusion of others.

Odera told Daily Sun that when his father was alive, he made all his children directors and shareholders of all his companies, including some others who are not members of the nuclear family.

Although he admitted that his late father gave the powers to Ekene to take over the chairmanship of the companies after his death, Odera said his father gave the condition that the chairman can be changed if he is not capable of running the companies.

Even as he remains silent on whether or not the new chairman has in any way proven himself to be incapable of running the company, Odera said: “The problem now is that the first son of the second wife uses …(everything at his disposal)… to intimidate other directors of the companies. He wants to run the companies alone, claiming that he is the first son and the heir, therefore, no other person is meant to be involved in running the affairs of the companies.”

Odera lamented that a half brother of his, a few days ago, invited policemen from the State CID, Awka who allegedly invaded the companies and sacked the workers at the corporate headquarters of Ekene Dilichukwu Nigeria Limited at Awada, Obosi shooting sporadically in the air. He said the invading forces eventually sealed off Ekene subsidiary companies there, including Ekene Dilichukwu Steel Structures Limited, Ekene Dilichukwu Motors Limited and United Modern Insurance Brokers Limited.

He alleged that many workers at these companies were beaten up by the security agents who later restricted entrance, even of the directors, into the companies’ premises.

Odera further alleged that the security agents extended their action to Ekene Dilichukwu motor parts business within Onitsha metropolis, disrupting business at the parks as passengers ran helter skelter.

Contentious will

Asked what happens to the will his late father made before his death, since the old man did not die inestate, or why he seems to be the only one raising dust over an issue the family appears to be fairly united about, Odera said that the will is being contested by other members of the family, adding that the issue concerning the will has nothing to do with the companies, since, according to him, his father in his life time directed how the companies should be run.

Odera however said that the aggrieved directors will head for court soon over the issue of the alleged intimidation and threat.

He told Daily Sun that several attempts have been made to call meetings by the stakeholders to resolve the matter, adding that the meetings have always been disrupted by thugs and security agents. “The records are there,” he volunteered.

When contacted, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Amusa Bello said he is aware of the incident but that the State CID, Awka is handling the matter.

But unlike Odera, not too many of the late prominent businessman’s children is ready to go public with whatever difference that there might exist. When contacted, one of the elder daughters of the late magnate insisted that there was no problem that was not being handled within the family. She insisted: “My brother, there is nothing to go to press with on this matter yet. I would be lying to you if I say everyone is happy with everything so far, but we are still talking and sorting out the issues. I don’t think anybody wants to disinherit anybody”.

Pressed further for comments he said: “when and if the time comes to talk, I promise you, we will talk. As for now, no cause for alarm.”

http://ndn.nigeriadailynews.com/templates/?a=17933

It is a new trend in nigeria these days,disunity and useless rivalries in family units.Absolute backwardness.

Nigerians are very selfish and greedy animals on average

maybe this ironically is an advantage of being poor. at least, there is hardly any inheritance for the children to fight over. so they are left with no choice but to remain united.

Didn't the man hv a will ? Where did he get 26 billion from ? Why didn't he get a neutral person, like a lawyer, to implement the will ?

Will or no will, my kids will get education from me every other thing will go to charity but again sometimes this things happen because of the way the family is set up.

this looks more like greed rather than the late man not making a will.

A lawyer, a very distinguished one at that, not having a will? Now that's odd!

obowunmi:

Didn't the man hv a will ? Where did he get 26 billion from ? Why didn't he get a neutral person, like a lawyer, to implement the will ? 

^^^ You're asking where Rotimi Williams got 26 billion from ? Haba!!! I'm even surprised it's that little. A man that towered above his peers (and i'm not just talking of his legendary height) and bestrode the Nigerian judicial landscape like a collosus. Maybe you're a bit too young to have heard about him then.

Bring the money, I can share it for them. 26 divided by 4. Simple, the problem is solved.

obowunmi:

Didn't the man hv a will ? Where did he get 26 billion from ? Why didn't he get a neutral person, like a lawyer, to implement the will ?

from all the govt cases he handled.
that is a gold mine for lawyers.
govt cases, election tribunals et al.

culled from "The Guardian " June 19 Edition.

The post-war era witnessed many successes especially amongst Igbo business men who despite the trauma and losses still managed to build large enterprises relying on self-help. Chief Augustine Ilodibe was easily Nigeria's biggest transporter with his Ekene Dili Chukwu transport business. There were others that built large scale contracting and construction enterprises such as Chief R.O. Nkwocha, Chief D.O Nkwonta and Chief F.G.N Okoye, all from Enugwu-Ukwu. Others thrived in industry and real estate such as Chief John Anyaehie, Chief Nnana Kalu, Chief Ferdinand Anaghara, Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Chief Onwuka Kalu. Those that focused on commerce (import and export) thrived as well, such as Chief G.E Chikeluba and his partners at the GMO Group. Unfortunately, most of these worthy pioneering Igbo sons have all passed on and the estates and business empires they left behind have also crumpled. Ndigbo should learn their lessons from some of these experiences. The world over, many businesses which began as family businesses such as Ford, Daimler Benz etc have since become publicly owned enterprises. When new shareholders and investors are allowed to come in, they bring in new ideas and capital thus enhancing further the chances of survival.

Most Igbo-owned businesses perpetually battle with succession planning. The practice is usually to transfer control to the eldest male child who may be the least competent. The other siblings are sidelined and this results in mismanagement and eventual demise of these businesses. My view is that day to day management does not necessarily have to reside in the hands of family members. If Igbo businesses are to survive in the long term, it is important that such businesses look outside the family and hire professionals to run the business. The polygamous lifestyles lived by the patriarchs also compound the problem. In cases of sudden death, the tendency is always for each surviving wife and her children to go after any part of the late patriarch's business they could access.

I think the above highlighted are the reasons why there is family dispute amongst the sibblings when their father dies.

if they can't agree on hw to divide their inheritance, they should donate it to charity,
there papa no get will

hugooh42:

culled from "The Guardian " June 19 Edition.

The post-war era witnessed many successes especially amongst Igbo business men who despite the trauma and losses still managed to build large enterprises relying on self-help. Chief Augustine Ilodibe was easily Nigeria's biggest transporter with his Ekene Dili Chukwu transport business. There were others that built large scale contracting and construction enterprises such as Chief R.O. Nkwocha, Chief D.O Nkwonta and Chief F.G.N Okoye, all from Enugwu-Ukwu. Others thrived in industry and real estate such as Chief John Anyaehie, Chief Nnana Kalu, Chief Ferdinand Anaghara, Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Chief Onwuka Kalu. Those that focused on commerce (import and export) thrived as well, such as Chief G.E Chikeluba and his partners at the GMO Group. Unfortunately, most of these worthy pioneering Igbo sons have all passed on and the estates and business empires they left behind have also crumpled. Ndigbo should learn their lessons from some of these experiences. The world over, many businesses which began as family businesses such as Ford, Daimler Benz etc have since become publicly owned enterprises. When new shareholders and investors are allowed to come in, they bring in new ideas and capital thus enhancing further the chances of survival.

Most Igbo-owned businesses perpetually battle with succession planning. The practice is usually to transfer control to the eldest male child who may be the least competent. The other siblings are sidelined and this results in mismanagement and eventual demise of these businesses. My view is that day to day management does not necessarily have to reside in the hands of family members. If Igbo businesses are to survive in the long term, it is important that such businesses look outside the family and hire professionals to run the business. The polygamous lifestyles lived by the patriarchs also compound the problem. In cases of sudden death, the tendency is always for each surviving wife and her children to go after any part of the late patriarch's business they could access.

tnk u so much for ths,one of them u mentioned above is my kinsmen and that was d truth.

Pathetic

kcjazz:

Will or no will, my kids will get education from me every other thing will go to charity but again sometimes this things happen because of the way the family is set up.

GBAM!

Best of education is what i will bequeath them. Every other thing including my opante [boxer] goes to charity! Let them work their way to the top.

N26billion? ? ? ? These old thieves were part and parcel of the widespread corruption that bedevilled goernment from independece to the Second Republic. Thousands of government cases (remunerated far above prevailing benchmarks, is that not corruption?), paperwork processing, registrations, consitution drafting, Ikoyi/VI land grabbing, and so on. I can safely guess that 95% of this wealth was earned directly from the government. Na real wah.

SMH at the level of Greediness being displayed by his sons.

@TOPIC
The love of money is the , (make una finish am) *sighz*