Dear Alhaja Afusat,

I hope you are doing well. It’s been a while since we last talked, but recent events have made me want to contact you again regarding our father’s legacy. I am contacting you through Facebook and my blog post, as it is the best way to contact you. 

I want to remind you that you hold the eighth position in our family’s hierarchy. This means you are the eighth in line among our family members in terms of seniority or rank. It’s important to remember this, especially when making decisions or taking actions that may impact the family. 

You have taken on a great responsibility as the person responsible for our father’s property without being officially appointed. However, we need a management team based on justice and equity. You have conspired with certain family members, both within and outside our family (our entire Majekodunmi family), to gain complete control of the property and manipulate others who may be less educated or financially secure. This behaviour is concerning and needs to be addressed.

Unearthing Family Secrets: The Tale of a Father’s Property and a Daughter’s Trust

I vividly recall our efforts to address the matter of our father’s property in 2016 when I invited you to join me for a meal at one of Lagos’s finest eateries. It was a moment of reconciliation, an opportunity to bridge the divide that had grown between family members over the years.

First and foremost, before our father’s passing in 2008, he entrusted you with the care of his property and essential documents, seeking to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate events that transpired in the late 80s when his house on Oredola Street, Bariga, was sold without his consent by a trusted family member. He trusted you, his daughter, in his wisdom, believing you would safeguard his interests.

However, as his health declined in August 2008 and he found himself hospitalised, it became imperative to retrieve these documents. Family members, myself included, gathered at the hospital for a brief meeting to discuss the matter. As the secretary of this impromptu assembly, I contacted you and arranged for your participation. Regrettably, despite repeated attempts, you did not attend either meeting for the best reasons known to you.

Betrayal and Strife: How a Sibling’s Reluctance to Cooperate Tore Our Family Apart

Our father’s efforts to retrieve the documents from you were met with frustration, which put unnecessary burdens and frustration on our father and rendered him hopeless, hapless, and helpless. You remained elusive, not explaining your reluctance to cooperate. The reasons behind your actions remain known only to you, but the consequences have left a lasting impact on our family.

You were the most privileged child among us during our childhood. In 1985, your wedding ceremony was magnificent in Bariga, which our father invested considerable money in. The wedding was a sight to behold and was the talk of the town for a long time.  

However, it is unfortunate that after your marriage, our father never did such a thing for any of his children again. It was clear that you had a better life than any of us, but it was because you had the opportunity to marry a wealthy man in 1985. This marriage bestowed upon you a position of power and wealth, which you, unfortunately, chose to use in a manner that has caused strife and division within our family.

Betrayal, Manipulation, and the Toll of Selfishness: A Family’s Struggle with Trust and Responsibility

Instead of using your husband’s influence and resources to help your less fortunate relatives, you chose a different path that involved seeking attention and praise for yourself. Unfortunately, this behaviour caused a rift between you and your siblings. I talked with our elder brother, Ganiu, who expressed deep disappointment in your actions.

Our father’s decision to entrust you with safeguarding his property documents was not made lightly. It was born out of necessity following the tragic loss of our eldest brother, Semiu Majekodunmi. If Brother Semiu had been alive, our father’s choice would have been different, and rightfully so. 

Your actions, however, have held our father hostage, causing him untold anguish and distress as you flouted his trust and manipulated his vulnerability for your gain. The emotional, mental, and psychological toll inflicted upon him by your actions is immeasurable and unjustifiable. In my meeting with you in 2016, I told you our father was unhappy with your actions when he was alive. You agreed with me and claimed that our father did something wrong. I have the audio file. 

Uncovering Family Secrets: A Tale of Reluctance, Resistance, and Unexpected Turns

After eight years of our father’s departure from this world, the lingering shadows of unresolved matters continue to cast a pall over our family’s legacy. Despite numerous attempts by concerned family members to retrieve essential documents entrusted to you, our efforts have been met with resistance and evasion.

Faced with the impasse created by your reluctance to cooperate, I took it upon myself to initiate a dialogue to resolve this longstanding issue with you in 2016. To foster transparency and open communication, I invited you to meet at one of Lagos’s premier eateries to discuss candidly over a meal.

However, what was intended to be a private conversation between you and me took an unexpected turn when you said you would invite Mulikat, another sibling of ours, to join us. While your reasons for extending the invitation remain known only to you, I decided to proceed with the meeting, albeit with a cautious approach.

Secret Recording Reveals Family Property Dispute: Are You Ready for the Truth?

Recognising the importance of documenting our discussion for future reference, I discreetly recorded the proceedings, ensuring that all key points and agreements were captured accurately. Indeed, the conversation delved into various matters of significance, all of which have been meticulously preserved in audio files for posterity.

If you want me to make it public, I won’t hesitate. 

During our exchange, your husband also participated remotely, conveying his directive for you to relinquish our father’s property to the family. In the pivotal meeting of 2016, you claimed that our family owed you less than four hundred thousand naira. As a result of the additional room and self-contained parlour, you built it with the rent fee you collected and part of your money. I asked you if you thought it was proper to invest your money in the family land without the full consent of all the family members.

After deliberation, we reached a consensus: you would be entitled to collect rent from the property for 2 to 3 years, after which the assets would be distributed equitably among the family members. Following this agreement, I convened a family gathering to discuss the terms outlined in our dialogue openly. At this assembly, it was unanimously decided that you would be permitted to collect rent for the specified duration.

A Shocking Betrayal and Tragic Repercussions: The Untold Story of Brother Nuraini Majekodunmi’s Arrest and Detention

True to our agreement, you duly collected the stipulated rent, and the asset distribution process commenced. However, to our collective astonishment, the shops were unexpectedly withheld under the guise of maintenance—a development that raised eyebrows and sowed suspicion among family members. 

In a cruel twist of fate, the repercussions of this action reverberated tragically in the recent events surrounding Brother Nuraini, our father’s fourth-born and second son: his untimely arrest and subsequent detention at the police station.

I clearly remember the pain and disbelief in our family when I tried to understand what had happened to Brother Nuraini. Although I attempted to get more information from Rasak, our half-sibling, his explanations didn’t relieve my worries about the injustice meted out to Brother Nuraini Majekodunmi.

Uncovering the Tragic Demise of Brother Nuraini: How Disregard for Familial Harmony Cast a Shadow of Doubt Over Family Property and Broke Our Bonds

The emotional, mental and psychological pains inflicted upon Brother Nuraini during his time of distress undoubtedly contributed to his untimely demise mere days later—a loss that weighs heavily upon our hearts and minds. In the wake of this tragedy, I am left to wonder: how do you reconcile in mind that your actions, in tandem with those of your associates, played a role in the demise of a beloved family member?

Under normal circumstances, Brother Nuraini would have assumed the rightful custodian of the family property if everything was normal. Yet, your undue influence and disregard for familial harmony have cast a shadow of doubt over the father’s property. It is heartbreaking to see our family bonds deteriorate due to those who prioritise personal gain over the well-being of our family.

We are still coming to terms with Brother Nuraini’s death, and I ask that you take a moment to consider the consequences of your actions and the far-reaching effects they may have had. I hope that in the wake of this tragedy, we can all take a step back and reflect on how we can honour his memory, come together as a family, and rebuild what has been broken.

Preserving Our Father’s Legacy: A Collaborative Approach to Family Inheritance

Afusat Rahaman, the time has come for you to relinquish control of our father’s property. I appeal to you to transfer ownership to the designated and selected family members with a rightful claim. Our father’s legacy spans generations, having children with five different women, yet we stand united as five pillars of his heritage. 

Each pillar should nominate one representative to form a management committee in the spirit of fairness and equity. This collaborative approach ensures that decisions regarding the property are made collectively rather than allowing personal motives to dictate the fate of our family’s inheritance. We must set aside individual differences and work together harmoniously to honour our father’s memory and preserve his legacy for generations to come.

Urgent Message to a Family Member: Reflection, Reconciliation, and Respect for Our Late Father’s Legacy

The audio recordings from my meeting with you in 2016 and the subsequent family gathering remain securely stored. While these recordings contain sensitive and confidential information, I am compelled to emphasise that if you persist in causing distress to our family members, akin to what you inflicted upon our late father, I will not hesitate to make these recordings public. I sincerely hope that such drastic measures will not be necessary and that we can resolve our differences amicably and with mutual respect. However, I am committed to ensuring justice and fairness prevail within our family dynamic.

As we navigate the complexities of our father’s legacy, I urge you to reflect on the importance of honesty, transparency, and familial responsibility. While our differences may have clouded our judgment in the past, it is never too late to seek reconciliation and closure.

I extend my hand in the hope that we can put aside our differences and work together to honour our father’s memory in a manner befitting his legacy. Let us strive to find common ground and move forward with mutual respect and understanding.

With warm regards,

Azeez Majekodunmi FSS