being or purporting to be testamentary (although it is not shown that the paper is in his possession or under his
control) the Court may in a summary way, whether a suit or proceeding for probate or administration is pending
or not, order that he may be examined respecting the same in Court or on interrogatories and that he do attend for
that purpose and after examination that he do produce the paper and bring it into Court.
4. The Court may of its own motion or on the application of any person claiming an interest under a will, give
notice to the executors (if any) therein named, to come in and prove the will or to renounce probate, and they or
some or one of them, shall, within fourteen days after notice, come in and prove or renounce accordingly.
5. If any person named executor in the will of the deceased takes possession and administers or otherwise deals
with any part of the property of the deceased and does not apply for probate within one month after the death or
after the termination of any suit or dispute respecting probate or administration, he may independently of any
other liability, be deemed guilty of a contempt of court and shall be liable to such fine, not exceeding one
hundred naira, as the Court thinks fit to impose.
6. (1) When any person subject to the jurisdiction of the Court dies, all petitions for the grant of probate of his
will and all applications or other matters connected with it shall be made to the Probate Registrar of the Court at
the High Court of Justice, Abuja.
(2) In regard to any such application, the Chief Judge shall have power to request any Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja to take measures and make such order as may appear necessary or expedient for the
interim preservation of the property of the deceased within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the
discovery or preservation of the will of the deceased or for any other purposes connected with the
duties of the Court under this Order and every Court shall carry out any such request as far as practicable and
report to the Chief Judge.
7. (1) A person applying for a grant through a legal practitioner may apply otherwise than by post at the Probate
Registry.
(2) Every legal practitioner through whom an application for a grant is made shall give the address of his place
of business within jurisdiction.
8. (1) A personal applicant may apply for a grant otherwise than by post at the Probate Registry.
(2) A personal applicant may not apply through an agent, whether paid or unpaid and may not be attended by any
person acting or appearing to act as his adviser.
(3) No personal application shall be received or proceeded with if(a) it becomes necessary to bring the matter before the Court on motion or by action;
(b) an application has already been made by a legal practitioner on behalf of the applicant and has not been
withdrawn; or
(c) the Registrar otherwise directs.
(4) After a will has been deposited in the Registry by a personal applicant, it may not be delivered to the
applicant or to any other person unless in special circumstances the Registrar so directs.
(5) A personal applicant shall produce a certificate of the death of the deceased or such other evidence of the
death as the Registrar may approve.
(6) A personal applicant shall supply all information necessary to enable the papers leading to the grant to be
prepared in the Registry or may himself prepare such papers and lodge them unsworn.
(7) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs, every oath, affidavit or guarantee required of a personal applicant
shall be sworn or executed by all the deponents or sureties before an authorised officer.
9. (1) The Registrar shall not allow any grant to issue until all inquiries which he may see fit to make have been
answered to his satisfaction.