Alhaji Sule Usman, an octogenarian retiree from Abuja, has been charged with undue influence in order to gain custody of his late wife’s adopted child, Khadizat Suleiman, and sell property worth over N100 million that was bequeathed to her.
‘Usman,’ who is from Okpo in Kogi state but now lives in Kubwa Abuja, and his late wife, Salamatu Sule, had no biological children before she died,’ according to the report.
The late woman’s younger sister, ‘Aisha Ameh, told the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) Child Welfare Unit that her late sister’s husband never welcomed the child while she was alive.
Ameh noted that the man who has four other wives with many children, opposed the child adoption idea by her late sister, claiming that his Islamic faith does not support it.
She said that the man who is still a moslem, all of a sudden developed interest in the child, because he wants to take over everything willed to the adopted child and transfer same to other children of the other wives.
She further accused the man of physically and emotionally abusing the 6 years little girl.
According to her, even though an FCT Area Court has granted the custody of the child to the man, after his subtle moves for re-adoption failed, the life of the child was in danger, as the other children of the man do not welcome the adopted child into the family.
Ameh has called on government to quickly take over the late woman’s property valued at over N100 Million, and keep same in trustee for the child.
” Please, and please, I’m appealing to Nigerians though judgement has been given, we don’t have power but we solicit for the help of Nigerians and the Nigerian government, please come rescue this little child and all that my sister has laboured for because, if those things are left in the hands of those people that hated her. She will end up getting nothing. In this world, she will be a loser. I’m appealing, please, please, come and rescue this little child” , she said.
Meanwhile, the accused man has debunked the claims that he opposed the adoption of the child, stating that he actually supported his late wife and welcomed her into his family.
The man who responded via the document he submitted to the court, said he has taken custody of the child to adequately care for her, while also ensuring that the property left by his late wife for the child was preserved.
