A 33-Year Denial of Inheritance Rights Under Sharia Law
In the heart of Ilorin stands Ile Isana, popularly referred to as Matchco, a prime property that has become the epicentre of a painful, decades-long struggle over the estate of the late 9th Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari Mohammed Aiyelabowo V (reigned 1959–1992).
More than 33 years after his death in 1992—the exact duration of his reign—his children, widows, and other lawful heirs are still systematically denied their Qur’anic inheritance. What should have been a prompt and transparent distribution under Sharia has been deliberately obstructed through secrecy, unilateral actions, and an illegal lease designed to permanently exclude most heirs—even beyond the expiration of that very lease.
Princess Bilkisu Tinuola Gambari, daughter of the late 9th Emir and half-sister to the current 11th Emir, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has courageously stepped forward to expose a calculated campaign of usurpation (ghasb) orchestrated by the Emir and his full maternal siblings.
Ile Isana / Matchco: Undisputed Part of the 9th Emir’s Estate—Until Now
There has never been any legitimate dispute over ownership: Ile Isana (Matchco) has always formed part of the personal estate of the late Emir Zulkarnaini Gambari Aiyelabowo V, to be divided among all his heirs according to the fixed shares ordained in the Holy Qur’an.
Yet a powerful faction within the family is now attempting to rewrite that reality. Their ultimate goal is clear:
• Deprive the wider heirs of their rights today.
• Ensure that, even beyond the expiration of its current illegal lease, permanent control and future benefits of Ile Isana (Matchco) flow exclusively to the Emir and his full siblings, permanently disinheriting the rest of the late Emir’s children and widows.
The Root of the Injustice: A Rigged Administration and an Illegal Lease
From the outset, estate administration was skewed in favour of one maternal branch. Two of the administrators—Ahmed Bolakale Sulu-Gambari and Asmau Funmilayo Buhari—are full siblings of the current Emir. This gave them unchecked power.
Exercising that power, these two administrators alone secretly entered into and signed a lease agreement with Bamtee Property Nigeria Ltd covering Ile Isana (Matchco)—without informing or consulting the other administrators, and without the knowledge or consent of any of the heirs.
The transaction was deliberately concealed, in direct violation of Sharia principles of transparency, consultation, and collective stewardship of a deceased person’s estate.
This lease is unlawful on its face and constitutes a classic case of ghasb (usurpation of the rights of others).
The 20 August 2025 Letter: A Desperate, Backdated Cover-Up
The illegal lease of Ile Isana (Matchco) was concluded and signed before 20 August 2025. Only after the contract had already been executed did the two administrators produce a letter dated 20 August 2025, ostensibly to create a paper trail that would retroactively justify their unilateral actions.
A third full sister of the Emir, Salamatu Olawepo Gobir—who is not even an administrator—was brought in solely to “perfect” this letter and lend credibility to the false claim that Ile Isana (Matchco) belongs exclusively to their maternal line.
The letter also invokes a supposed 2004 “deferment” to “Nma” (the late Alhaja Aishatu Bolanta Nma Gambari, mother of the Emir and his full siblings). This is a longstanding pretext rooted in maternal favouritism.
Under Qur’an 4:12, a widow has a fixed share and no authority to block or control distribution among the heirs.
Yet for decades, the Emir’s full siblings used their mother’s alleged “approval” as an excuse to freeze the estate. She died in 2019 without ever granting that approval. Instead of finally distributing the estate, her children now insist on forcing all heirs into a 35-year joint business venture that no one else wants or agreed to.
Princess Bilkisu is unequivocal:
“There is nothing in Islam that makes doing business with your siblings compulsory. After depriving us for 33 years, they now want to bind us for another 35. Only they know why.”
A Trail of Broken Lives and a Direct Violation of the Prophet’s Command
While the Emir, Ahmed Bolakale Sulu-Gambari, Asmau Funmilayo Buhari, and Salamatu Olawepo Gobir position themselves to reap what their 20 August 2025 letter calls a “multitude of blessings,” countless heirs have suffered in silence.
Many children and widows of the late Emir have died over the past 33 years without receiving a single kobo of their inheritance. Families have been torn apart.
This prolonged withholding directly contravenes the explicit instruction of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in Sahih Bukhari: the estate of the deceased must be divided without delay once debts and bequests are settled—precisely to prevent the harm and injustice now inflicted on the Gambari heirs.
A Final Call for Justice as 2025 Draws to a Close
Princess Bilkisu issues a direct and uncompromising message:
To His Royal Highness the Emir Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari,
Ahmed Bolakale Sulu-Gambari,
Asmau Funmilayo Buhari,
and Salamatu Olawepo Gobir:
• Stop the manipulation.
• Stop violating Sharia.
• Stop weaponising your full-sibling advantage.
Immediately revoke the illegal Bamtee lease over Ile Isana (Matchco).
Return the entire estate—including Ile Isana (Matchco)—to the jurisdiction of a neutral Sharia court for prompt, transparent, and lawful distribution to all heirs according to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
To the People of Ilorin, Kwara State, and the Nigerian Muslim Community
After 33 years of patience and loss, no more heirs must die deprived and unheard.
Justice delayed for a generation is justice denied.
The time for justice is now.
Read the letter below with the false narrative
5 Responses
These individuals appear to have acted in a fraudulent and dishonest manner. It is unfortunate that the Nigerian legal system is often perceived as too corrupt to reliably deliver justice, but ultimately, accountability awaits everyone before Allah.
Our Father,Our Emir,the Mai-Martaba of Ilorin Emirates Should as a matter of urgency should do the needful,divide the Property,apart from dragging Ilorin publicly,it’s a disgrace that our father,the respected Justice Ibrahim Kolapo Gambari,Our father & Emir of Ilorin is involved in this UnGodly & Un-Islamic act,when tomorrow is closing fast at every second,.
Infact,Many people from Everywhere are embarrassed that our Emir should desend low,it was rumoured that our Emir will never settle for peace and will not even allow the Judiciary (Kwara)from working on the case
It is truly worrisome these days that pedigree seems to have disappeared, even among those we consider aristocracy. A person’s background no longer reflects their character, and there is nothing people won’t do for money anymore. It is extremely sad that a royal father and a religious leader would be entangled in issues of inheritance, manipulation, cheating, stealing, and fraud.
What has become of our society?
Does the Emir of Ilorin not have children? Where are they, and why are they allowing their father to be dragged so badly on social media?
If the man is old and possibly unable to fully comprehend what is happening, shouldn’t his children step in? They should advise him—if he is still able to understand or take charge—to ensure that their grandfather’s estate is handled properly and returned to the appropriate authorities for fair Islamic distribution among the rightful heirs.