Experts Push Structured Islamic Estate Planning to Protect Wealth, Prevent Family Disputes

By: Michael Mike

Legal, financial and Islamic scholars have urged Nigerians to embrace structured Islamic estate planning, warning that informal and undocumented wealth transfer practices continue to expose families to conflict, asset loss and prolonged court 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 stressed that increasing reliance on verbal agreements and family-based arrangements often undermines the intentions of asset owners and creates avoidable disputes among beneficiaries.

Managing Partner of The Metropolitan Law Firm, Hajia Ummahani Amin, said many Nigerian families fail to document their estate plans, leading to mismanagement and outcomes that contradict Islamic inheritance principles.

She explained that estate planning enables individuals to organise their affairs ahead of death and ensure their wishes are carried out in line with both legal and religious requirements.

“Leaving assets with relatives or friends without proper documentation has resulted in 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. According to her, these tools are essential for protecting beneficiaries and sustaining long-term family legacies, especially as Nigeria adjusts to digitalisation and emerging tax reforms.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Isa Pantami, Co-Chairman of the African Union’s 4th Industrial Revolution Policy Council, called for a shift from informal practices to properly documented, Sharia-compliant estate planning systems.

Pantami said verbal agreements are unreliable and often fuel disputes, adding that structured wealth transfer is both a legal necessity and a religious obligation in Islam.

He advocated the use of modern technologies, including blockchain-based systems, to secure wills and estate documents, while also highlighting challenges such as delayed will-writing, undocumented property ownership and cultural practices that conflict with Islamic inheritance laws.

Chairperson of the Better Life Programme for the African Rural Woman, Dr Hajiya Aisha Babangida, emphasised the need for sustained public education on Islamic financial instruments.

She noted that tools such as waqf (Islamic endowment), trusts and Sukuk could be leveraged to support education, infrastructure and community development if properly understood and 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 major obstacle 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 goes beyond wills to include trusts, gifts and powers of attorney designed to ensure smooth wealth transition.

On regulatory developments, Rotimi Obende of First Trustees highlighted the impact of tax reforms effective from January 1, 2026, noting that income generated from estates and trusts is now subject to reporting and taxation.

“Although 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.

Representative of Al-Ameen Trustees Limited, Ms Mutiat Olatunji, underscored the importance of regulated, faith-based trustees in ensuring ethical, transparent and Sharia-compliant estate management.

She said professional trusteeship plays a critical role in 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.

They agreed that structured Islamic estate planning is vital not only for preserving wealth, but also for promoting social stability, accountability and intergenerational prosperity.

Experts Push Structured Islamic Estate Planning to Protect Wealth, Prevent Family Disputes