Pantami, Experts Urge Shift to Structured Islamic Estate Planning to Prevent Family Disputes
Legal, financial, and religious authorities have issued a stark warning to Nigerians regarding the dangers of informal wealth transfer, noting that reliance on verbal agreements continues to expose families to bitter disputes, financial ruin, and protracted legal battles.
The consensus was reached during the 8th Annual Islamic Estate Planning Clinic held this weekend in Abuja. The event, themed “From Informality to Legacy: Structuring Islamic Wealth Transfer,” was organized by The Metropolitan Law Firm in collaboration with First Trustees Ltd and Al-Ameen Trustees Ltd.
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In a compelling keynote address, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Co-Chairman of the African Union’s 4th Industrial Revolution Policy Council and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, emphasized that documenting one’s estate is both a legal necessity and a religious obligation.
“The transition from informality to legacy means moving from cultural verbal agreements to formal, documented frameworks,” Pantami stated. He warned that verbal arrangements are inherently unreliable and are the primary source of inheritance-related crises in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
Harnessing his expertise in the digital economy, Professor Pantami advocated for the integration of modern technology in estate management. He proposed the use of blockchain systems to securely preserve wills and legal agreements, ensuring they remain tamper-proof and easily accessible for future generations.
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Managing Partner of The Metropolitan Law Firm, Hajia Ummahani Amin, noted that while Sharia defines specific inheritance portions, many Nigerians overlook the flexibility allowed under Islamic law. She reminded participants that individuals retain the right to allocate up to one-third of their estate through wills (Wasiyyah) or trusts to non-heirs or charitable causes.
“Leaving assets in the hands of relatives without proper documentation has caused serious problems,” Amin cautioned. She urged the adoption of structured tools like endowments (Waqf) to protect beneficiaries and sustain long-term legacies.
Tax Reforms and Digital Assets
The clinic also addressed the evolving fiscal landscape. Rotimi Obende of First Trustees highlighted new tax reforms effective January 1, 2026, which require trustees and administrators to report income generated from estates. He noted that proper legal structures allow for tax assessments on net income rather than gross, significantly preserving the estate’s value.
Similarly, Mr. Abimbola Ajinibi, Associate Director of First Trustees Ltd, debunked the myth that Islamic rules eliminate the need for planning. He warned that “intestate” estates (those without a will) often face probate processes that can consume up to 10 percent of the estate’s total value in administrative costs.
Education and Community Growth
Dr. Hajiya Aisha Babangida, Chairperson of the Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman (BLPARW), called for increased awareness of instruments like Sukuk bonds and Waqf. She argued that these tools are essential not just for family prosperity, but for funding community infrastructure and education.
Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Mutiat Olatunji of Al-Ameen Trustees emphasized the importance of using regulated, faith-based professional trustees to ensure ethical financial governance and regulatory compliance.
The clinic concluded with a collective resolution: for Nigerians to secure their intergenerational prosperity, they must bridge the gap between religious guidance and modern legal expertise through technology and professional trusteeship.
By PRNigeria
