By BANNERNEWS Reporter Calabar
The Probate Court, Calabar Judicial Division, has ordered the joint administration of the estate of the late former Secretary to the Cross River State Government, Chief Wilfred Oden Inah, following a dispute over the alleged sale of a family property without the consent of other beneficiaries.
The ruling, delivered on July 24, 2026, in Suit No. LA/600/2021, followed a Notice of Caveat filed by Bima Oden Inah, a daughter of the deceased, seeking to prevent the issuance of Letters of Administration without notice to her and her siblings.
The court directed that the application for Letters of Administration be amended to include four children representing all the deceased’s family lines—Mrs. Kosi Oden Inah, Mr. Maurice Oden Inah, Mr. Ofem Oden Inah and Mrs. Mildred Manama Ikheloa. The four were also directed to submit the required biodata to the Probate Registry.
The dispute centres on a property at No. 63, Ibom Layout, Big Qua Town, Calabar, comprising a block of four flats and a large expanse of land. Family members alleged that Maurice Oden Inah sold the property to Mr. Emmanuel Emele Utum for more than N100 million without the knowledge or consent of the other beneficiaries.
The family claimed the property was worth between N300 million and N400 million and alleged that their late father had directed that each of his children should take one of the flats, while Maurice would take the surrounding land.
Ofem Inah said the alleged sale contravened their father’s wish that the property should remain in the family, while Mildred Ikheloa said the family wanted the property returned and the buyer’s money refunded.
The matter was subsequently reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sources said Maurice was detained but later failed to honour further invitations, reportedly citing ill health.
Maurice, however, did not deny the sale when contacted by The Guardian. He also declined to comment extensively on allegations that he collected rents from other family properties without convening family meetings, saying the matter was a family affair and that he would convene a meeting at the appropriate time to brief the family.
The deceased’s widow, Chief Mrs. Kosi Inah, denied knowledge of the sale or receiving any proceeds from it. She said she could not have participated in the sale of her husband’s property against his wishes.
“I am an old widow who just returned from a major surgery abroad. I don’t want to be dragged into this matter,” she said.
The alleged buyer, Utum, said the property was duly advertised for sale by Barrister Wilfred Usani and maintained that he conducted due diligence, including an inquiry with Mrs. Kosi Inah at her residence in Federal Housing Estate, Calabar, before completing the transaction.
“To me, this deal is not a do-or-die affair. Since the family has now got involved in this, I am ready to walk away only if my money is refunded,” Utum said.
Sources close to the buyer also said a High Court in Calabar had served him an order restraining him from renovating, remodelling or constructing any structure on the property pending the determination of a suit filed by members of the family.
The Probate Court’s order is expected to ensure that all branches of the deceased’s family are represented in the administration of the estate and prevent further disputes over its management.
