Provided that the Court may in its discretion refuse the grant unless and until all persons entitled to the grant in
priority to the applicant have expressly renounced their prior right.
11. Every applicant for a grant of letters of administration shall file in the Court a true declaration of all the
personal property of the deceased and the value thereof:
Provided that for the purpose of the fees payable on letters of administration, the value of the property in respect
of which the grant is made shall be deemed not to include(a) any gratuity payable by the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, or the Government of a State or the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to the estate of any person formerly employed by either of such Governments or
by a statutory corporation; or
(b) any sum of money payable to an estate from a Provident Fund established under the provisions of any written
law.
12. (1) In no case shall the Court issue letters of administration until all inquiries which the Court sees fit to
institute have been answered to its satisfaction.
(2) The Court shall, however, afford as great a facility for the obtaining of letters of administration as is
consistent with due regard to the prevention of error and fraud.
13. A notice to prohibit a grant of administration may be filed in the Court.
14. (1) The notice shall remain in force three months only from the day of filing, but it may be renewed from
time to time.
(2) The notice shall not affect a grant made on the day on which the notice is filed.
(3) The person filing the notice shall be warned by a warning in writing delivered at the place mentioned in the
notice as his address.
(4) Notices in the nature of citations shall be given in such manner as the Court directs.
15. Suits respecting administration shall be instituted and carried on as nearly as may be in the like manner and
subject to the same rules of procedure as suits in respect of ordinary claims.
Custody of Wills
16. Any person may, in his lifetime, deposit for safe custody in the Court at Abuja his own will, sealed up under
his own seal and the seal of the Court.
17. (1) Every original will, of which probate or administration with will annexed is granted, shall be filed and
kept in the Probate Registry in such manner as to secure at once the due preservation and convenient inspection
of the same.
(2) A copy of every such will, and of the probate or administration shall be preserved in a book kept for the
purpose in the Registry.
18. (1) No original will shall be delivered out for any purpose without the direction in writing of the Court where
the will is filed.
(2) A certified transcript, under the seal of the Court of the probate or administration with the will annexed may
be obtained from the Court.
Probate or Administration with Will annexed
19. (1) On receiving an application for administration with will annexed, the Court shall inspect the will, and see
whether it appears to be signed by the testator or by some other person in his presence and by his direction, and