Crisis brews in Ibru family as properties tears children apart

Five months after the demise of business mogul, the late Chief Michael Olorogun Ibru, 16 of his children are locked up in legal tussle over properties belonging to the late octogenarian.

Already, one of the children, Oboden Ibru, in suit No:LD/10P/17, has approached a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, asking the court to declare that he and the 1st-15th defendants i.e. all sixteen surviving children are persons entitled to share the estate of the late Ibru.

Sued are: Oskar Ibru, Peter Ibru, Emmanuel Ibru, Gloria Ibru, Elaine Ibru-Mukoro, Elvina Ibru, Mamemo Ibru, Janet Ibru, Obaro Ibru, Vivi Ibru-Stankov, Edesiri Ibru, Christiana Ibru, Jero Ibru, Vikwesiri Ibru, Gabriel Ibru and the Probate Registrar, High Court of Lagos state.

The claimant, through his lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, sought the court for an order declaring that the Memorandum of Understanding dated January 2, 2001 is valid as to the distribution by way of gift of the late Chief Ibru’s assets to both “OVUONE” and “IVETU” and that same remain binding.

Besides, Oboden asked the court to declare that the properties listed in the Memorandum of Understanding dated January 2, 2001 belong in their entirety to “OVUONE” being gifted jointly and severally to “OVUONE” in the lifetime of the late Chief Ibru and such properties which includes:1, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos; 47, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos; 49, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos; 52, Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos; 5,7,9 Emotan Apapa, Lagos; 3,5,7 Ladipo Oluwole, Apapa Lagos; Daska House; Blomfield Court; 33, Michael Ibru Boulevard; 6, Louis Solomon Close, Victoria Island, Lagos and 5/7, Queens Barracks Road.

Specifically, the claimant asked the court to declare that the properties listed in the Memorandum of Understanding dated January 2, 2001 belong in their entirety to “IVETU” being gifted jointly and severally to “IVETU” in the lifetime of the late Ibru and such properties includes:20, Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos; 6, Kensington Park Gardens, London; Starcross farm; Hillcrest apartment; Zabadne plot Abuja; Maitama plots Abuja; Maroko plots, Lagos; 7, Randle Close, Apapa Lagos; all shares in Oceanic bank; Oteri’s shares in Minet Nigeria Limited; Oteri’s shares in Ibachem and the portion of Ibafon land occupied by Ibachem and Ovwian land.

The claimant asked the court to declare that the judgment in suit No: FHC/I/CS/981/06 delivered by Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Lagos on April 17, 2014 remains valid and subsisting, same not having been set aside by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Oboden sought the court for an order appointing the 7th defendant, Christiana Ibru, 1st defendant, Oskar Ibru, 8th defendant, Jero Ibru, claimant, Oboden Ibru as administrators of the estate of the late Chief Ibru.

He sought an order of the court directing the administrators, so appointed, to apply to the 16th defendant for the grant of letters of administration with respect to the estate of the late Ibru.

The claimant sought for an order of the court directing the 16th defendant to grant, give and issue letters of administration to the administrators of the estate of the late Ibru as appointed herein.

An order of the court appointing Messrs. PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited to conduct a forensic audit of the shareholdings and assets whether real or personal, belonging to the estate of late Ibru in Oteri Holdings Limited and any other company in Nigeria or anywhere such may be located, discovered or found in the world and submit such report to the Registrar of the court within 90 days of the order and the cost of such exercise be paid by the administrators so appointed herein.

The claimant sought the order of court directing Messrs. Knight Frank Nigeria to thereafter relief above present evaluation of the assets (real properties) of the late Ibru as contained in the forensic audit of late Ibru and to submit such report to the registrar of the court within 60 days of receiving the forensic report.

An order of the court directing Messrs. Greenwich Trust Limited to thereafter relief above present valuation of the assets (personal properties) of late Ibru as contained in the forensic audit of late Ibru and to submit such report to the Registrar of the court within 60 days of receiving the forensic report.

The claimant sought an order of the court directing the appointed administrators to divide the assets into 16 equal shares and that same be given to all the 16 surviving children of the late Ibru.

He also sought the order of court directing the administrators so appointed to approve a sum not in excess of N20 million as solicitors fees for each defendant and also approve the claimant’s cost of instituting this action and that all such solicitors fees be paid directly from the estate of the late Ibru.

But in a counter-claim filed by 8th defendant, Janet Ibru, asked the court to declare that only the persons who have adduced evidence of paternity by way of a DNA result from DNA Diagnostic Center, One DDC Way, Fairfield, Ohio, USA are the surviving children of the late Ibru and are the persons entitled to the estate of late Ibru in equal share.

Specifically, the counter-claimant sought the court to declare that all matters pertaining to the estate of the late Ibru be adjudicated to conclusion in a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria where the late Ibru resided, conducted his businesses and made his fortune.

She sought the court to declare that she is entitled to a refund of all expenses, including the $48,000 incurred by her in defending the law suits of the 2nd defendant.

An order of the court directing the administrators of the estate of the late Ibru to refund to the counter-claimant, the expenses incurred in taking care of the late Michael Ibru during the final year of his life.

Meanwhile the matter has not been assigned to a Judge and no date has been fixed for mention.