Scales of Justice

The scheduled trial of Sulaiman Sanusi, one of the children of the late industrialist, Chief Abdul Rasak Sanusi, over alleged possession of firearms, was again stalled, on today, due to the absence of the trial Magistrate.

No new date has been fixed for the trial.

At the resumed hearing trial of the defendant on Wednesday, litigants who stormed the court presided over by Magistrate Omolola Omotosho, as early as possible were told to step out of the court, as Wednesdays have be dedicated for hearing of family cases.

Upon conclusion of sitting by the panel on family cases, the litigants for criminal cases were told that their matters had to be adjourned till another date, which will be communicated to them.

Consequently, the trial of Sulaiman Sanusi, has to be adjourned, till another yet to be announced date.

Suleiman is standing trial before the court on charges of alleged illegal possession of firearms and disobedience of court order.

The offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 4 of the Firearms Act, 2004, as well as 104 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The matter has suffered several adjournments for more than two years now.

The defendant was first arraigned before Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, before the case file was transferred to Omotosho, by the state Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmulayo Atilade, after Mrs. Adedayo raised alarm that her life was being threatened.

The criminal charge was a stem from the bitter tussle which has been raging in the family since the demise of their father.

Some of the children have made allegation of gross mismanagement of the estate by the executors.

In a petition dated October 2, 2014, and addressed to the Police AIG, Zone 2 Headquarters, one of the late Sanusi’s children, Bimbo Sanusi Lawal, accused her brother, Suleimon Sanusi of unlawfully taking over the administration of the father’s estate.

Bimbo also alleged that his brother misappropriated over N2 billion while using fake mandates and unknown companies to clear cheques drawn in the name of their late father and his companies. The police are still investigating the matter.

Besides the petition, over 13 cases filed by different siblings are also currently pending before various courts in the State High Court.

In one of the suits, three of the siblings, Suleimon Sanusi, Mrs Risikat Olusanya and Mrs Ganiyat Sanusi Amoro approached a Lagos High Court for an order compelling the executors of their father’s will to sell off his properties and share the proceeds among them.

The children of the late business mogul have been at loggerheads since 2002 over their father’s last Will and Testament.

Sulaiman alongside two of his siblings, Risikat Olusanya and Ganiyat Sanusi had in 2002, filed a suit marked ID|904M|2002, against their late father’s appointed Executors of his estate, Abdul-Mojeed Sanusi, Falilat Sanusi-Lawal, and Bilikisu Sanusi.

The claimants had accused the executors of mismanagement of their father’s estate before Justice Williams-Dawodu.

In a ruling on the matter in 2006, the judge ordered Suleiman to surrender all documents relating to the estate in his possession, adding that the respondents should resume joint management of the estate in line with their late father’s will, to which he had flagrantly refused and is being also tried for contempt.

The court also ordered the Executors to submit report of stewardship to the court.?

.The late Alhaji Sanusi, until his death over 20 years ago, bequeathed his properties and companies comprising Sanusi Brother Nigeria Limited, Sanusi Steels Industries Limited, Sanusi Robber Works Ltd, Nigeria Industries Products Agencies and Global Stars Nigeria Ltd, (formerly Sambros International Ltd) to at least 22 of his children.

Also included in the will prepared by the late Chief F.R.A Williams were Alhaji Sanusi’s five wives, Alhaja Suwebath, Alhaja Simbiat, Alhaja Adikatu, Alhaja Rasheedat and Alhaja Musilat. Since the execution of the will, the Sanusi siblings have been engaged in family war over the management of their father’s estate.