Lagos State High Court is hearing a contentious dispute over the final will of the late billionaire businessman, Jacobus Roomans, as his nephew, Casper Groenen, testified that dementia runs in the family and that his uncle lacked the mental capacity to execute a valid will in his final years.
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The case, before Justice Adedayo Oyebanji at the Tafawa Balewa Square High Court, involves Roomans’ three sons Simon, Kyle, and Daniel who are contesting their father’s July 5, 2022, will. They have sued the will’s executors, Luke Ilogu, SAN, Stanley Onuosa, Roomans’ widow Maria Mahat, and her son Romario, alleging that the document is invalid.
The claimants argued that their father, a naturalised Nigerian, had been suffering from a cognitive disorder since 2010 and lacked the capacity to sign the will. They further accused Mahat of exerting undue influence to secure an estate transfer that left all assets to herself and her son.
The defendants, however, maintain that Roomans was of sound mind when he executed the will, and both sides have presented expert medical evidence to support their positions. In January 2025, Justice Oyebanji had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the matter.
At the resumption of the hearing last Thursday, Groenen, a Dutch citizen from Venlo, Netherlands, testified virtually. He described his late uncle as a generous man who had provided him with a £2,000 monthly allowance but claimed that Roomans showed signs of dementia as far back as 2014, years before the disputed will was signed.
Groenen recounted an incident when Roomans mistook him for a 10-year-old despite him being 50 at the time. He also noted that both his mother and her twin sister—Roomans’ siblings had suffered from dementia before their deaths, and he believed Roomans exhibited similar symptoms.
“My mother started to suffer from dementia in 2010, and my aunt in 2011. I believe my late uncle also started suffering from dementia in 2014,” Groenen said.
He described Roomans as a strong-willed businessman during their time together in England but said his independence had collapsed by 2018. Groenen recalled a meeting outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where Roomans appeared unable to act without his widow’s approval. He also testified that his attempts to contact Roomans between 2017 and 2018 via calls and emails went ignored.
During cross-examination by the defence, Groenen admitted that his assertion about Roomans’ dementia was a personal opinion. He also acknowledged that his uncle continued to provide him with a monthly allowance despite his claimed cognitive decline.
Justice Oyebanji adjourned the matter until September 30 for the continuation of the trial.
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