JudeEsq
THE LAND THAT ALMOST DESTROYED A FAMILY
There are few things more painful in legal practice than seeing a family break apart over property that could have been protected with one simple document. This story is one example that every Nigerian should learn from.
In a quiet part of Ibadan lived an elderly man known as Baba Olaleye. He had lived on his land for about forty years. He farmed on it. He raised his children on it. He built his life on it. When old age came and his children moved to different cities, Baba began to worry about the future of the land.
He loved his three children deeply. He did not want quarrels. He did not want confusion after he passed. So he called them together and told them how he wanted the land to be shared. They all nodded. They all agreed. Everybody seemed satisfied.
But Baba made one mistake:
He only spoke his wishes, he did not write anything down, he did not consult a lawyer.
At first, it looked like everything would be fine. After all, these were siblings who grew up together. They loved one another. They respected their father. They believed they understood his intentions.
Until Baba died.
Within three months, the peaceful home they grew up in became a battlefield. The same children who once shared meals and memories now argued like strangers.
One claimed Baba promised him the largest portion because he was the first son.
Another insisted she deserved more because she cared for Baba in his old age.
The youngest swore that Baba gave him a different instruction privately.
Voices were raised.
Accusations filled the air.
Neighbours tried to intervene.
Even the police were called at some point.
Eventually, all three siblings found themselves in court.
When the Judge asked a simple question, everything changed.
Did your father leave a written Will?
All three said no.
The Judge sighed the kind of sigh that often follows many avoidable family disputes. The court could no longer deal with sentiments or private conversations. Without a Will, the law had to apply the rules of intestacy. That means the property would be shared according to traditional formulas, not according to what anyone claimed Baba said.
Nobody received the portion they wanted.
Nobody got what they believed Baba intended.
And the family bond was damaged beyond repair.
One afternoon, after a particularly long hearing, the eldest son sat outside the courtroom with tears in his eyes. He whispered something that has stayed with me until today,
“If Baba had written a Will, we would still be a united family today”.
That single sentence captures the tragedy of many Nigerian families.
THE MORAL LESSON
Good intentions are not enough.
Verbal promises are not enough.
Family love alone is not enough.
Your wishes must be legally documented.
A Will is not for the rich. It is not for the old. It is for anyone who owns anything and wants to protect peace among those they love. A simple written Will can save a family from years of bitterness, conflict, and costly litigation.
WHAT EVERY NIGERIAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TESTACY AND INTESTACY
When you die with a valid Will, the law calls it testacy.
When you die without a Will, the law calls it intestacy.
Testacy allows your exact wishes to be followed.
Intestacy leaves your property to be shared by customary formulas, even if that is not what you wanted.
Under intestacy:
- Your property may be divided in a way you never imagined.
- People you wanted to protect may get less.
- Family members who never agreed may fight for years.
- Your estate may be wasted on avoidable court cases.
- Relationships can be destroyed forever.
One written Will prevents all of this. It speaks for you when you can no longer speak. It brings clarity. It protects loved ones. It preserves peace.
THE SIMPLE TRUTH
A Will is one of the most powerful peace keeping documents in Nigerian law.
It is the difference between a family guided by your instructions and a family thrown into conflict by silence.
Let the story of Baba Olaleye remind us:
Your property can be a blessing or a battlefield, the difference is preparation.
Write your wishes.
Sign them properly.
Involve a lawyer.
Protect your family.
© F. J. Jude
Website: jude.ng
