The inheritance war over the estate of the late Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari Mohammed rages on as heirs and beneficiaries have petitioned the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Oukoyede, after their complaint of fraudulent deals, breach of trusts and money laundering by the estate administrator Mr Ahmed Bolakale Gambari was rejected by its Kwara Zonal Directorate, Ilorin.
The heirs had in a petition dated 22 October, 2025 asked the EFCC to investigate alleged breach of trust, criminal conversion, conspiracy, fraudulent dealings and possible money laundering involving the estate property belonging to the monarch, and located at Murtala Mohammed Way, Ilorin.
However, the directorate, while acknowledging the receipt of their complaint, observed that: “The petition majorly pertains to land dispute. The facts contained therein border on a case of trespass to property (land) and as such, since your family is certain that it still retains ownership in the property, then: “A suit can be instituted against any of the administrators and trespass thereon. The family can seek orders from any relevant court, mandating the disclosure of information, presentation of account, records/business dealings, annulment of any unauthorised acts of the administrators and injunction restraining the activities being carried out on the property among others.
“The family may also want to file a complaint with the Nigeria Police on the alleged acts of criminal trespass pursuant to Section 342 of the Penal Code.
“We are confident that a legal practitioner would further guide the family on this issue.”
“In view of the observations made above, the instant petition is hereby rejected as the reliefs sought therein can only be entertained by a Court of competent jurisdiction and also the Nigeria Police on the alleged aspect of criminal trespass to land,” the EFCC wrote in a reply to Hajiya Zeinah Sulu Gambria and 5 others, dated 12th November, 2024 and signed by the Zona Director, CE ABC Ozioko Esq.
However, protesting the rejection in a letter to the EFCC boss, the heirs said: “With profound respect, we consider the reasoning and conclusion in the said letter to be fundamentally flawed, inconsistent with the clear statutory mandate of the EFCC, and capable of shielding serious economic and financial crimes from investigation.”
They, therefore prayed Olukoyede to “set aside the decision of the Kwara Zonal Directorate contained in its letter of 12 November 2024; Order an immediate, full-scale investigation into all allegations contained in our petition of 22 October 2025; Direct the issuance of an interim order halting all ongoing construction or development on the property pending investigation.”
“Our petition discloses prima facie economic and financial crimes squarely within the EFCC’s mandate Our petition sets out clear allegations involving: Criminal breach of trust by an estate administrator (contrary to Sections 311-312 of the Criminal Code and Section 15 of the EFCC Act); Fraudulent conversion and misappropriation of estate assets; Conspiracy to defraud the estate; Unauthorized engagement of an unidentified developer for valuable estate land without the consent of co-administrators or beneficiaries; Concealment of the identity of the developer, contractual terms, and all financial proceeds; Reasonable suspicion of money laundering arising from opaque and unexplained transactions linked to ongoing development on the property. These issues fall directly within Sections 6(b), 7(1)(a) & (b) and 13(2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
“The classification of this matter as a “land dispute” is erroneous The fact that the property remains registered in the name of the estate does not transform allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and illicit financial dealings into a family land dispute. Criminal breach of trust remains a prosecutable offence irrespective of unresolved title issues. The Commission has historically investigated and prosecuted individualsincluding administrators, trustees, directors, and public officials-who misused positions of trust for personal gain,” they said in the letter of appeal signed by Hajiya Zeinab Zulu Gambari(Widow), Mariam Segilola Gambari, Hauwa Gboyega Gambari, Bilkisu Tinuola Gambari, Aliyu Oladipupo Gambari and Rakiya Ajibola Gambari.
They said referring them to civil courts or the Police defeats the purpose of the EFCC Act, adding that civil courts cannot investigate criminal conduct or trace and recover proceeds of crime.
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