The two wives of late Major General Abdullahi Iyanda Muraina and their children have taken themselves to an Abuja court over the huge estate he left behind.

Muraina who died in a Dubai hospital last year September, after falling into coma, left behind a multi-billion Naira estate that included event centres, shopping plazas, houses and plots of land in Abuja and his home state of Oyo.

The 64 year-old general died intestate, triggering the legal squabble, between his two wives, the first one, Alhaja Peju Muraina and the second, Ann Usiagu-Muraina and their children.

Ann Usiagu-Muraina and three of her children are the plaintiffs in the case filed before the Upper Area Court, Gudu in Abuja. Abibat Adepeju Muraina and three others are the defendants.

Ann, who owns a Microfinance bank FORTEM MFI is challenging the intestate distribution of Muraina’s properties to his heirs in accordance with Islamic law.

Her lawyers, A.I. Arotiowa and Jeph C.Njikonye, a senior advocate of Nigeria have now placed a caveat emptor on the properties, including six vehicles, three of which are bullet proof.

Before Muraina died, his first wife Alhaja Peju, was in charge of the popular Mauve Event Centre in Ibadan, on Ring Road. It is the biggest event centre in the city.

Her control of the property is now being challenged as it is listed among the properties in contention.

Others are Mauve Lounge, also at Ring Road in Ibadan, Smart Bridge Plaza at Utako Abuja, Pathfield Plaza in Gwarinpa, also in Abuja.

Also in contention are the houses at 21 Mohammed Irma Street in highbrow Asokoro District of Abuja, B26 Palm Estate, Maitama Abuja, 17 Congo Street, Sun City Abuja, 19 Congo Street, also in Sun City Estate.

Listed in court papers are also the houses at 11 Barcelona Street, Sun City, Benue Street, which has no number, and Oka Akoko Close in Garki Abuja.

The wives and the children also want the court ruling on the ownership of Dilay Farms in Keffi, Nasarawa State, Yalid Petroleum Fuel station on Abuja-Keffi Expressway, houses at 3 Onikoko Estate, Ikoloba in Ibadan, 11B Mahogany Street, Forest Hill Estate Jericho Ibadan and a storey building at 16 Awolowo Avenue, Bodega in Ibadan.

Other assets in contention are plots of land: acres of land at Akinajo Village in Oyo State, Plot 55 Phase 1 Stage lll “abode New Town Corporation in Ibadan and Block V Plot 9B, New Government Reservation Area, Jericho Ibadan.

The six vehicles listed in the caveat emptor notice are bullet proof 2013 Toyota Avalon, Bulletproof 2013 Lexus LX570, Ford Explorer SUV 2013, Toyota 14 Seater Hummer Bus and 2015 Ford Truck.

Ann Usiagu-Muraina’s lawyers warned that the Gudu court has taken jurisdiction over all the assets listed in the public notice.

They warned that any anyone dealing with any institution, entity or individual, with a view to acquisition of any of the properties, does so at his own risk.

No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit.

Muraina, before his death served not just in the military, but also at the Nigerian Institute of Management, where he became the president.

He was the 23rd President and Chairman of the Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).

He attended the Islamic Mission School, Odoye, Ibadan, for his primary education before going to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, for his secondary education between 1972 and 1976.

Between 1976 and 1978, he was at the Polytechnic Ibadan for his Advanced Level course.

Thereafter, he went to the University of Lagos for a BSC and later University of Ilorin for a Master’s degree programme.

Muraina held several positions, staff and instructional appointments. These include the Nigerian Army training and Assistance Group in The Gambia and served as Head of the Gambian National Army Finance and Records.

He retired in the Nigerian military as the  Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army Headquarters.