Usman Lawal-Osula

Chief Usman Mofeyintioluwa Lawal-Osula (March 12, 1910 – December 2, 1972) was a Nigerian businessman with interests across insurance, real estate and other industries. As a member of the Benin royal family, he held a hereditary traditional title as the Arala of Benin at the time of his death.

Legal battle of will

Mr. Courtney Gidley (left), a former member of the Nigeria Police Force and Chief U.M. Lawal-Osula

The case of the will of Chief U.M. Lawal-Osula has become one of the most notable family law cases taught around the world as final judgment came after 23 years of disputes and court battles. At the time of his death in 1972, a will written by Chief U.M. Lawal-Osula dated November 22, 1968 was found. However, in 1995, two years after the death of the 1st defendant, Mrs. Lydia Lawal-Osula, the Supreme Court of Nigeria made a ruling that the real estate and personal properties comprised in the estate of Chief Usman Mofeyintioluwa Lawal-Osula be handed over to his wife and children as stated in the will.

Personal life and death

Chief Usman Lawal-Osula was the great grandson of Princess Aghayubini, the daughter of Oba Osemwende, the 33rd Oba of Benin. In 1957, he was honoured with the title, Arala of Benin by Oba Akenzua II, his cousin and 37th Oba of Benin.

He was Chairman of the Midwest Art Council and Vice President of the Nigerian Arts Council, now the National Council for Arts and Culture. He was instrumental in providing evidence in support of the creation of the Mid-West State of Nigeria before Sir Henry Willink and others. In his earlier years, Chief Usman Lawal-Osula was appointed to the Benin Divisional Administrative Committee in 1948 and became the first Muslim to serve in the colonial administration of the Division. With diverse business interests across Nigeria, he served on the boards of multiple organizations such as Midwest Textile Mills and T.A. Oni & Sons, while also playing a pivotal role in bringing the United Bank for Africa to the mid-western region of Nigeria following the restructuring from British and French Bank Limited (BFB) in 1961 after Nigeria's independence.

Chief Usman Lawal-Osula died in his Benin City home on December 2, 1972, the day after returning from hospital in England, Great Britain. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Lydia Modupe Lawal-Osula JP and former spouse of Moses Odaro, Hajia Morenike Ibrahim-Yahaya, Princess Iyabo Ifueko Akai and Princess Edugie Joan Nzeribe, the wife of Senator Arthur Nzeribe.

Philanthropy Chief Usman Lawal-Osula was an international art collector and sponsored the third floor of the Benin City National Museum. In 1965, Chief Lawal-Osula appealed through Sir Francis Cumming-Bruce, 8th Baron Thurlow to the British people during a party honouring the chief in Lagos to let them have back in Benin some of the treasures which were looted during the Benin Expedition of 1897. He owned a printing press and established The Benin Voice in 1949 as the first newspaper in the mid-western region of Nigeria. A memoir of one of his visits to Great Britain is currently in a library at McGill University.