A high-stakes inheritance dispute has erupted between the children of the late Major General Christopher Jemitola and his wife, Safiya Jemitola, over the distribution of his estate. The controversy surrounds the late general’s matrimonial home in Asokoro, Abuja, which Caleb Jemitola, the late general’s son, from a divorced wife, claims is rightfully his.
●Allegations of foul play
According to sources close to the family, trouble began when Caleb, the late general’s son from his previous marriage, allegedly attempted to stop the Nigerian Army from organising a major event of his father’s burial, at his father’s Asokoro residence. Caleb’s actions were reported to have enraged his late father’s family, friends, and the Army. Caleb’s actions were reportedly motivated by a desire to protect his own interests in the estate.
● Widow’s claims
Safiya Jemitola’s lawyer, Nureini Jimoh SAN, has sued Dr. John Idahosa and others for an alleged concocted will of the late general. The will, which was executed without Safiya’s knowledge, has sparked outrage among the family and friends of the late general.
THE CONCLAVE obtained Abuja High Court documents, in which Nureini Jimoh SAN, Mrs. Safiya Jemitola’s lawyer sued Dr. John Idahosa (Executor 1), Segun Mekadese (Executor 2), Peter Kayode Abodunrin Esq. and a Probate Registrar of an Abuja High Court, for an alleged concocted will of the late general unlawfully executed.
In the Abuja court’s “terms of settlement” in a divorced Suit No:PET/519/2022, filed in November 25, 2022, but which terms of settlement were reached on 02/05/2023, by the late general against his ex-wife, Josephine Oki (formerly Josephine Jemitola), he (the late General Jemitola) had reiterated warm love for family values, especially for his two children, Master Caleb and Miss Iman.
It was learnt that Caleb and Iman joyfully attended the elaborate wedding ceremony of their late father to their stepmother, Safiya. But Jemitola’s avowed love for his family, wife (Safiya) and children (Caleb and Iman) has now been rendered ineffectual, apparantly sacrificed by Caleb on the altar of greed, selfishness, conspiratorial alliance with her mother [Josephine Oki] and bad faith.
● Family members weigh in.
A blood relation of the late general, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment at Caleb’s actions, saying: “Caleb was ill-advised to disobey our family. We had appealed to him to wait for a year after his father’s death before settling the inheritance matters.”
Another family member corroborated this account, adding that Caleb’s mother, Josephine Oki, had been goading him into the disputes.
Apparently pissed off by Josephine’s mischief, he alleged that while General Jemitola was alive, “she had been excessive in her spending and shaming her late ex-husband. The general had to pay back over N1 billion in debts she had accumulated.”
He further claimed that the late General Jemitola had a frosty relationship with Dr. Idahosa, his friend of many years, when he (Idahosa) loaned a hefty US$150,000 to Josephine, his ex-wife, without his knowledge. There were over forty persons from whom Josephine borrowed money with assurances that General Jemitola would pay. Dayo (Mama Ife), daughter of Chief Obasanjo, the ex-president, was the 17th on the list of the over 40 creditors. She was said to owe her N25m.
Alleged profligacy and borrowing that shamed her late ex-husband, he asserted, informed part of the reasons for her divorce by the late general. General Jemitola documented, in his own writing, his many friends and others that Josephine owed.
The general was said to have paid back a long list of her debts before he suddenly died. A comparative analysis of the late General’s cursive-like writing showed a striking similarity with writing on the list of Josephine’s creditors.
Another source, a general friend of the late Gen Jemitola said “The sum she borrowed from Dr. Idahosa alone, was USD $150,000 out of which the late general paid USD $20,000, but was hesitant paying back the rest when neither Dr. Idahosa, Josephine nor an intermediary, could say the nature of business that led to the huge borrowing.”
See some of the list of creditors:
● Caleb’s response
Despite repeated attempts, Caleb and his mother (Josephine) have refused to comment on the matter. The family and friends of the late general are calling for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, urging Caleb and his mother to respect the wishes of the deceased.
A member of the late General Jemitola’s extended family member said: “The rush for the late General Jemitola’s wealth only gives credence to the hurried declaration of the controversial will. His ex-wife, who was already given two separate apartments and other things, as divorce settlement, is the same now goading her children, so that she could have easy access to continually whet her high spending appetite.
“Obviously, she and her ex-husband’s friends would have connived to seize the late general’s residence, to cover for the unsettled debts. That is why some of the late general’s friends have deplored a certain Abuja pastor and thugs, as they were spotted on CCTV photos and videos, leading the police and Civil Defence corps to break into the general’s matrimonial home and persecute Safiya, his widow.”
Caleb Jemitola in a farewell speech during his father’s burial, as captured in a report in Vanguard of February 20, 2025 said that; “…I’ll hold on to everything he taught me and do my best to make him proud”. His act is said to be complete repudiation of his assurance during his father’s burial.
● Investigation Underway
An investigation by this reporter has shown that Caleb has yet to complete his university education, despite being 28 years old. His younger sister, Iman, has already graduated and is working in the UK.
The matter is in court, with Safiya Jemitola seeking to protect her rights as the widow of the late general. The outcome of the case is eagerly awaited by the family and friends of the late General Jemitola.
@theconclaveng.com, https://www.theconclaveng.com/family-feud-wife-of-the-late-general-jemitola-accuses-stepchildren-of-plot-to-disinherit-her-heads-to-court/
