Legal, financial and Islamic scholars have urged Nigerians to adopt structured Islamic estate planning, warning that informal and undocumented wealth transfer practices continue to expose families to disputes, asset loss and protracted legal battles.
The call was made in Abuja at the 8th Annual Islamic Estate Planning Clinic, themed “From Informality to Legacy: Structuring Islamic Wealth Transfer.” The event was organised by The Metropolitan Law Firm in partnership with First Trustees Limited and Al-Ameen Trustees Limited.
Speakers at the forum cautioned that reliance on verbal agreements and informal family arrangements often undermines the intentions of asset owners and leads to avoidable conflicts among beneficiaries.
Managing Partner of The Metropolitan Law Firm, Hajia Ummahani Amin, said many Nigerian families fail to properly document their estate plans, resulting in mismanagement and outcomes that contradict Islamic inheritance principles.
She explained that estate planning allows individuals to organise their affairs in advance and ensure their wishes are implemented in line with both legal and religious requirements.
“Leaving assets with relatives or friends without proper documentation has created serious challenges for many families,” Amin said.
She noted that while Islamic law provides clear inheritance guidelines, individuals are permitted to allocate up to one-third of their estate through structured instruments such as wills, trusts and endowments. These tools, she said, are essential for protecting beneficiaries and sustaining long-term family legacies, particularly as Nigeria adapts to digitalisation and evolving tax reforms.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Isa Pantami, Co-Chairman of the African Union’s 4th Industrial Revolution Policy Council, called for a decisive shift from informal practices to properly documented, Sharia-compliant estate planning systems.
Pantami described verbal agreements as unreliable and a frequent source of family disputes, adding that structured wealth transfer is both a legal necessity and a religious obligation in Islam. He also advocated the adoption of modern technologies, including blockchain-based systems, to secure wills and estate documents.
He identified challenges such as delayed will-writing, undocumented property ownership and cultural practices that conflict with Islamic inheritance laws as major obstacles to effective estate planning.
Chairperson of the Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman, Dr Hajiya Aisha Babangida, emphasised the importance of sustained public education on Islamic financial instruments.
She said tools such as waqf (Islamic endowment), trusts and Sukuk could be leveraged to support education, infrastructure and community development if better understood and properly utilised.
“Awareness and education are critical,” she said. “Structured planning helps families preserve wealth while contributing to broader social development.”
Also speaking, Associate Director of First Trustees Limited, Mr Abimbola Ajinibi, identified cultural misconceptions as a key barrier to effective estate planning among Muslims.
He explained that many wrongly assume Islamic inheritance laws eliminate the need for wills, whereas individuals retain discretionary powers over a portion of their estate.
“Failure to plan often results in intestate estates and lengthy probate processes, which can cost as much as 10 per cent of the estate value,” Ajinibi said.
He added that estate planning extends beyond wills to include trusts, gifts and powers of attorney designed to ensure smooth wealth transition.
On regulatory developments, Rotimi Obende of First Trustees noted the implications of tax reforms effective from January 1, 2026, explaining that income generated from estates and trusts is now subject to reporting and taxation.
“While inheritance transfers remain largely unaffected, income earned during estate administration must be declared,” he said, adding that proper structures help ensure taxes are assessed on net income.
A representative of Al-Ameen Trustees Limited, Ms Mutiat Olatunji, underscored the role of regulated, faith-based trustees in ensuring ethical, transparent and Sharia-compliant estate management.
She said professional trusteeship is critical to regulatory compliance and responsible wealth stewardship for both private beneficiaries and community development initiatives.
Participants concluded the clinic by urging Nigerians to combine religious guidance with legal expertise, professional trusteeship and modern technology to secure their families’ futures, noting that structured Islamic estate planning is vital for preserving wealth, promoting social stability and ensuring intergenerational prosperity.
