My neighbour's son just inherited a house he didn't know existed

I was at the registry yesterday going through some old land documents when I saw something that made me stop. A property in Ikeja, prime location, has been sitting in probate since 2019. The owner died intestate, no will, and his only son has been living in Agege paying rent for seven years not knowing his father owned a four-bedroom duplex.

See ehn, this is the problem we have in this country. People die with their mouths shut about what they own. The son is a okada rider, struggling to feed his family. Meanwhile this house is gathering dust and court fees. The law says if you die without a will, your property goes to your children and spouse. But if nobody knows about it, the government can sell it after a while. I had to call the young man myself and tell him to come to my chambers on Monday.

He started crying on the phone. Crying. A grown man. That house can change his whole life if he does the right paperwork. Make I tell you something, if you own anything in this country, write it down. Tell your children. Leave a will. Don't let your sweat benefit the government when you are gone. How many families are sitting on wealth they don't even know they have?