By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A bitter inheritance dispute has erupted in the family of late former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Saidu Gidado Idris, with some of his children accusing their stepmother of denying them access to his property and disobeying court orders.
Speaking on behalf of his siblings, Saidu Idris alleged that since their father’s death in 2017, they have been barred from entering his Abuja residence to take inventory of his belongings, as required under Islamic law.
“We, the seven siblings from our late mother’s side, have not been allowed into our father’s room to see his Will or property documents. This is contrary to Islamic injunctions. It is clear to us that there is injustice and inhumanity here,” he said.
According to him, an initial court ruling awarded the late SGF’s Aso Drive residence in Abuja and another property at Coronation Crescent, Kaduna, to their stepmother. Dissatisfied, the siblings appealed and secured a judgment granting them properties in Zaria. However, they alleged those assets were later sold by their stepmother.
He further claimed that the court ordered her to compensate them with ₦185 million, a ruling yet to be complied with.
Efforts to settle the matter outside court also failed. Saidu said he contacted former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who involved the Emir of Zazzau to set up a reconciliation committee. “The committee was biased and even offered us land along Kaduna-Zaria road, which we rejected. Our father gave us properties before he died, yet our stepmother sold them all,” he alleged.
The aggrieved children said they have now withdrawn the case from court but are appealing for public and rights groups’ intervention.
“Our father was a just and gentle man. He couldn’t have died without leaving a Will. We believe it is locked in the room we have been denied access to. We want Nigerians to know the truth. This injustice is painful. We need prayers, sympathy, and intervention. It appears our stepmother is above the law,” Saidu said.
The Upper Sharia Court in Kaduna reportedly ruled in 2020 that the stepmother should pay the children ₦185 million. The siblings insist the order remains unfulfilled.
The late Idris was survived by one wife and 12 children. His family comprised three wives—one deceased, one divorced, and the surviving widow at the centre of the current controversy.
Efforts to reach the stepmother for comment were unsuccessful as at press time.
