The experiences that Imo people go through while trying to sort out issues pertaining the entitlements of their deceased family members, especially the issuance of letters of administration at the Probate Registry department of the Ministry of Justice can be described as terrible, dehumanizing and frustrating.
Our reporter who ran into some aggrieved individuals who identified themselves as next of kins to their deceased relatives, lamented that they had passed through hell for months, trying to sort out the entitlements of their departed loved ones but the government procedure and attitude of staff of the Probate Department had made it very difficult for them to the extent of being hospitalized, losing lives and property, in addition to the ones they were fighting for.
According to Ogechi who said she came for her deceased husband’s Letter of Administration, ” the staff collect bribes from those who come for registration with impunity, claiming that they want their own handy. This is apart from the government’s 15% of whatever amount or property brought to their knowledge, unlike in other states of the federation where they collect 10% or 5%” .
“At every stage of the registration exercise, they will demand some gratification and if you fail to play ball, they will tell you clearly that your file ‘will not move’. In fact, I don’t know why the Imo State government always makes things difficult for people. It is not like that in the north where I reside”, she further lamented.
Also expressing his dissatisfaction over the probate exercise, Amobi who comes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said he was forced to cough out some money to a particular staff for the exercise to commence and that he had met all their demands, including getting a letter from the local government council, letter from the bank and sureties, paid the government ‘s 15% Estate Fee and receipt issued “yet, the Letter of Administration has not been issued to me.”
“When I asked, they said that those who should sign are not on seat. Does that mean that nobody can deputize for them? Is this a personal or a government job? Can’t the Governor, the Attorney General or the Chief Judge look into this issue and fast track development, instead of boxing citizens into tight corners.
“The greatest fraud here is that they have collected the 15%, tagged “Government’s Estate Fee” from a deceased account without issuing the letter to the next of kin or beneficiary immediately. When you ask them, they will say that it is not ready yet. That for me amounts to the government stealing by trick. I don’t know why our government should encourage “419” in this manner. Ideally , once the government’s fee is paid from a deceased’s account, it should not exceed one week before the beneficiary is settled. Why delay the owner’s approval letter and money when the government is enjoying the deceased’s money, paid into the TSA?. This, to me, is monumental fraud and it is very irritating.”
