We gathered that your counsel wrote a letter on your behalf to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin, demanding for the sharing of the estate of your late father. Are the other heirs in agreement with you ?

I have no counsel representing me at the Sharia Court. I personally applied to the Sharia Court myself. I don't need a counsel. The sharia law is implicit and it ensures that the dictates of Allah as in the Quoran are adhered to. And it is not a requirement that all heirs to the estate must be in agreement before the sharia can take its course. All that is necessary and required is to establish whether or not the Estate has been shared. If not, then they will share it according to Islamic injunction and give me what is mine.

Has the Sharia Court of Appeal taken necessary action on your request?

Oh yes! I have been asked to submit what constitute the items to be shared.

Can you furnish us with the list of the heirs and the Estate?

Well, we are 48 children in all, plus our mothers. The items that constitute the Estate have already been submitted to the courts. This I virtually lifted from the committee report of 2000. It also includes some recently discovered items. And there is still the possibility for other items to surface. I believe it is better we wait for the sharia court to take its course.

You claimed that sometime in 2000, the heirs of your late father wrote a letter of demand or request to the incumbent Emir for the sharing of the Estate. How many of the heirs signed the letter and is it possible for us to get a copy of the letter?

A letter dated 26th June, 2000, addressed to our mothers, written and signed by our late father's brother 'Alhaji Sa'adu Mohammed Laufe (the district head of Ballah) on behalf of the incumbent Emir of Ilorin, requesting us and our mothers to vacate the family house where we have resided since the demise of my father. This letter was what prompted our response in 2000, to demand that the house where we live should remain the Zulkarnani Gambari family house and that all Estate is shared among the heirs. This letter was signed by one child from each wife representing their siblings and their mother.

As a result of this letter by the heirs, you said the incumbent emir caused a committee to be set up. What is the content of the report of the committee, with particular reference to its recommendations?

The committee agreed with our suggestion that the house where we reside should remain the family house of Zuilkanani Gambari family and that all other items that constitute the Estate of the late Emir be shared. I personally discussed with the Emir, being the eldest child of our father, to facilitate the sharing of the Estate. When nothing was done, I requested my lawyer to write a formal letter to the Emir requesting same in June 2007. The reply from the Emirs counsel dated 9th July was that the Estate has already been shared since 1993, and that he, the Emir, only took a ring and rosaries. This claim contradicts the report of the committee in 2000. And from the Quranic view, he had no right to share or take anything of the Estate. Being the eldest son does not confer that right on him. I was therefore, left with no choice but to apply to the Sharia Court of Appeal, to come to my aid to establish the truth, whether or not the said Estate has indeed been shared and by whom.

What has been happening to the proceeds from the Estate in the past 15yrs? Was it kept in trust in a bank for all the heirs or shared among the heirs?

That is the question the sharia court will be asking after they establish that the Estate has not been shared. But to my knowledge the incumbent Emirs daughter 'Fatima Ibrahim Gambari, has been representing the Zuilkarnani Gambari family in companies where my late father has shares. Only she and the Emir can answer that question. I know for a fact that she has been attending shareholders meeting at Evans brothers (the publishers) since 1992.

What is your reaction to the alleged condemnation of your action by Mogaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Woru Mohammed that you were being used by unnamed elements working against the Emirate?

First and formost 'Mogaji Nda should stop dabbling into issues that does not concern him. And his personal opinion is not required in a case that is already before the Sharia Court of Appeal. Like he rightly said, this is strictly a family matter. All residents of Ilorin Emirate are subjects of the Emir, and it is unfortunate that Mogaji Nda of Ilorin will suggest that there are people in the Emirate working against the Emirate. It is now obvious that the only political strategy used by some of our leaders is hiding behind the Shehu Alimi dynasty to achieve their political aim. So tell me, is it me that is being used?

Alhaji Woru Mohammed regarded your action as an unwarranted attack on the Emir because he has done what ought to have been done with the Estate?

Excuse me! My application to the Sharia court was titled: Bilkisu Zuilkarnani Gambari V the Estate of the late 9th Emir of Ilorin. Please, how is that an attack against the incumbent Emir for crying out loud? The only thing that ought to be done regarding the Estate is for the Estate to be shared and nothing less. I believe it will be in order to request that Alhaji Woru Mohammed should stay out of issues he knows nothing about.

Is it true that you were advised by well-meaning personalities within the Emirate not to contest the senatorial election in the last election against Senator Gbemisola Saraki?

How would Alhaji Woru Mohammed know whether I was advised and by whom I was advised? I have never had any contact with this man in my life. Before I ventured into politics, I discussed it with my brother, the incumbent Emir, and the rest of the family including my uncles, i.e. Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, far away in America. I only picked the ticket after I received their blessings. It is the blessing and support of my family and friends that I needed to pursue my political ambition. I was not the only senatorial candidate in Kwara Central; we were nine in all. Why was my candidacy a problem for them?

Is it also true that the Emir personally called you not to contest against Senator Gbemisola Saraki?

That is not a correct statement. The Emir is not only my brother but traditionally the father of all citizen of Ilorin Emirate. If he had any problem with my candidacy, he would have told me right from the onset. People that are not even family seek his blessing talk less of me. Let's assume it is true that the Emir asked me to withdraw from the senatorial contest, but I refused to listen, will that be a legitimate reason for the Emir to call a press conference to tag me a bastard? This was in the herald newspaper, TV and radio in both Yoruba and English. Will it not rather be expected to involve the family? i.e. My mother, stepmothers and my late father's brothers and sisters. He should have involved them to ensure that I step down? This kind of talk should not be a secret that nobody in the family can testify to. And the Sen. Gbemisola Sarakis flagging off in front of the Emir's palace, my fathers' house was not a legitimate political move, but one of hatred and meanness, designed to distract the public from political issues. I attribute it to my surpassing her. So I remained firm and patient facing their insults. The Emir is not a politician and has no business anointing any candidate.

This is a 'bastard' that knows her right; I want the Sharia Court to get me my inheritance from my late fathers Estate to prove to my people that I am a bonafide member of Zuilkarani Gambari family. It is only a bastard that does not inherit her father.