The Tribune

BY NEIL HARTNELL

TRIBUNE Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A FURIOUS Cat Island legal battle has erupted with the three sons of Captain Allan Russell fighting over the businesses and property assets in their late father’s estate amid claims that his will is not “genuine” or valid.

Captain Russell, who passed almost a year ago on August 10, 2025, was an influential figure often referred to as the “Mayor of Cat Island” with multiple ventures in tourism, shipping, real estate and gas stations. However, his family are now feuding over the will that purports to grant “the majority of the properties in the estate” to his grand-daughter, Tamika Russell, also known as Tamika Johnson, to the detriment and exclusion of both his 70-year wife and three sons.

The battle has pitted Jaccion Russell, in his capacity as executor of his father’s estate, against his two brothers, Ezra Russell and Bradley Russell. The details are revealed in a July 30, 2026, verdict by acting Supreme Court judge Raynard Rigby KC, who granted Jaccion’s bid for an injunction to prevent Bradley “threatening or interfering with tenants” at the Two Corner’s Inn but declined to impose a similar bar on Ezra’s control and operation of New Bight Service Station.

Jaccion Russell, in legal filings, had accused Bradley of “inserting himself into the management and control” of the Two Corner’s Inn by dealing directly with tenants - collecting their due rental payments and even issuing eviction notices.

In particular, he claimed that Bradley Russell demanded 700 Wines & Spirits, the retail arm of BISX-listed Commonwealth Brewery, first vacate its store space at the property and then, just weeks later, increase its monthly rental payments by $2,000.

Jaccion Russell, in his capacity as executor, alleged that 700 Wines & Spirits had “begun packing and preparing to vacate” The Bight premises as a result of these demands, threatening both the estate’s income and management. And he alleged that Bradley’s actions have “deprived” the estate of income vital to meeting its financial obligations, resulting in its loan from the Bahamas Development Bank falling into default.

As for the gas station, Jaccion claimed that while Ezra Russell had been permitted by their father “to operate and manage” the business, his brother had never owned it or the real estate upon which it sits. He alleged that Ezra has refused to return the gas station to his father’s estate and excluded himself - as executor - from the property.

Tamika Johnson, the prime beneficiary of Captain Russell’s purported will, sought to back Jaccion’s arguments by asserting that Bradley and Ezra’s names appeared on documents associated with the Bahamas Development Bank loan simply because their father needed them to help overcome the institution’s reluctance to advance credit because of his age. She alleged that neither Bradley nor Ezra Russell acquired beneficial ownership of the assets they now purport to control from their father.

These claims, though, were both vehemently denied by Bradley and Ezra Russell, both of whom are represented by Philip McKenzie of the Davis & Company law firm. Bradley Russell argued that, having managed and maintained the Two Corner’s Inn using his own money and work, he has “a substantial equitable interest in the property”.

Both himself and his mother have challenged Captain Russell’s purported will, and Bradley Russell added: “The purported last will and testament, dated October 28, 2024, excludes most of his children, including myself. However, what is most alarming is that the purported will also excludes my mother, who was married to my father for almost 70 years.”

Ezra Russell, meanwhile, presented an October 17, 2006, conveyance purporting to show that his father had sold the gas station and its 2.272 acres to himself. He added that Captain Russell sold the property to him for $361,000 in return for Ezra covering “legal expenses” related to a decade-long court battle that resulted in his father being jailed for several years in the early 2000s.

Ezra Russell added that he had been “in continuous, open, exclusive and uninterrupted possession and occupation” of the gas station for 28 years, with his father alive for 24 of those, and Captain Russell had not once “sought to remove me”.

The late Captain Russell enjoyed a colourful career marked by brushes with tragedy and the law. He was the owner and operator of the Sea Hauler, which in 2003 collided with another vessel, the United Star, resulting in four deaths, an amputation and dozens injured after a crane on his vessel collapsed and crushed passengers it was transporting on its regular route to Cat Island from Nassau.

And, while the estate dispute evidence somewhat glossed over Captain Russell’s three-year imprisonment, The Tribune’s archives show this resulted after Captain Russell was found guilty of importing 2,000 thousand kilograms of cocaine for onward distribution to the US during the 1980s.

Former appeal justice Churaman, in rejecting the appeal by Captain Russell and another against their sentences, wrote that the former had “neutralised practically every law enforcement agency in Cat Island”. He added: “For this gigantic criminal enterprise he almost single-handedly corrupted and controlled, regrettably with apparent ease, sections of the police, Immigration, Customs, air traffic control and, it seems, every relevant law enforcement agency to facilitate the carrying out of his nefarious activity.”

Fast-forward to the present day dispute, with acting justice Rigby recording that the late Captain Russell’s estate includes some 40 acres on Cat Island plus the two businesses. Jaccion Russell, in an affidavit, said it features “several parcels of land on Cat Island” plus “income generating assets” - in particular, the rental units at the Two Corner’s Inn in The Bight.

He asserted that, while both his brothers were present when their father’s will was read on October 14, 2025, each allegedly “refused to accept my father's wishes and have, since his passing, taken it upon themselves to interfere with the estate and its properties without any lawful authority and without my consent as executor”.

Jaccion Russell further claimed: “In relation to Bradley Russell, he has inserted himself into the management and control of the property known as Two Corner's Inn, which forms part of the estate. He has been dealing directly with tenants, holding himself out as though he is entitled to control and manage the property, and interfering with the existing tenancy arrangements which were in place.

“In particular, I am informed and verily believe that Bradley Russell issued a written demand to one of the estate's lawful tenants, namely 700 Wines & Spirits, requiring that they either increase their rent by $2,000 per month or vacate the premises by March 31, 2026. I have since been informed, and verily believe, that as a direct consequence of that demand, the tenant has begun packing and preparing to vacate the premises.

“This is of serious concern to me as executor, as the loss of that tenant would immediately affect the income of the estate and disrupt the proper management of the property. I say that Bradley Russell has no legal right whatsoever to interfere with the tenants, to demand rent, or to issue any form of notice, and his actions are entirely unauthorised and contrary to the proper administration of the estate.”

Jaccion Russell added that these actions “have directly interfered with the estate's ability to meet its financial obligations, in particular its monthly loan obligations to the Bahamas Development Bank”.

“I am aware that Bradley Russell has issued correspondence to third parties asserting ownership or control of estate property, has collected rental income which properly belongs to the estate, and has otherwise misappropriated or diverted estate funds,” he further claimed.

“As a result oft these actions, the estate has been deprived of the income necessary to service its loan, and I am advised that the estate is now in default with The Bahamas Development Bank. This situation places the estate at risk of further financial consequences, including enforcement action, and significantly underscores the urgency of this application.”

As for his other brother, Jaccion is alleging that - apart from refusing to return the gas station property to the estate - Ezra Russell has also without permission “taken possession of adjoining vacant land forming part of the estate, and has enclosed that land by fencing it off and is using it for the storage of heavy duty equipment”.

He also claimed that, prior to his death, Captain Russell had taken steps to remove Ezra from the property by instructing attorneys in February 2024 to give his son 21 days’ notice to clear and vacate. In response, Jaccion Russell alleged that Ezra Russell launched Magistrate’s Court proceedings against their father alleging harassment, although these were later withdrawn.

Tamika Johnson, the will’s chief beneficiary, alleged that it was never Captain Russell’s intent for Bradley to acquire any ownership interest in the estate and its assets despite the latter being named as co-borrower on the Bahamas Development Bank loan documents. She asserted that this was done to offset the lender’s concerns over her grandfather’s age.

“I say that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the deceased remained at all times the sole legal and beneficial owner of the estate properties, and neither the loan arrangements nor the operational involvement of Bradley Russell or Ezra Russell conferred any ownership interest upon them,” Ms Johnson alleged.

She claimed that Captain Russell gave his wife, Magurette, and Ezra Russell power of attorney to manage his affairs and bank accounts on December 10, 2003 - the same day that the Court of Appeal rejected his challenge to the drug conviction - knowing he faced prison time.

“Over time, concerns arose in relation to the manner in which my grandfather's affairs and properties were being managed. In particular, my grandfather became dissatisfied with the handling of matters relating to his properties at Fountain Bay and other assets forming part of his estate, and formed the view that his affairs were not being properly administered,” Ms Johnson alleged.

“I say that, as a consequence of those concerns, my late grandfather subsequently took steps to formally revoke the authority previously granted to his wife, Magurette Russell, and his son, Ezra Russell. Accordingly, on or about August 31, 2023, he duly executed a revocation of power of attorney revoking the said appointment….

“Following that revocation, I say that my grandfather began to rely upon me to assist him with the management of his affairs, including the collection of rental income from his properties and the application of those funds toward his financial obligations, including the loan with the Bahamas Development Bank,” she further claimed.

“Based on my knowledge of the management of my grandfather's affairs and the handling of rental income, I verily believe that at no time did Bradley Russell and/or Ezra Russell make any personal financial contributions toward the repayment of the loan facilities associated with the said properties, and that all such payments were made from funds generated from my grandfather's properties and not from any personal contributions by them.”

Ms Johnson alleged that her grandfather had granted her power of attorney over his affairs on February 7, 2025, just months before he died. Apart from the Sea Hauler mail boat, New Bight Service Station and Two Corner’s Inn, she listed his assets as also including vehicle and rental car operations.

She also claimed that it “came as a complete surprise” when Ezra Russell alleged that his father had sold him the gas station property for $361,000, suggesting she was unaware of such an agreement. “At the very time the alleged conveyance was supposedly executed, the property was already subject to an existing mortgage in favour of the Bahamas Development Bank,” Ms Johnson alleged. “As an ordinary person, that has never made sense to me.

“If my grandfather had genuinely intended to permanently sell one of his principal business assets, I would have expected the existing mortgage to have been dealt with as part of that transaction. Instead, there is no reference to the bank's interest, no indication that the bank had consented to any transfer and no suggestion that its security had been released. Everything that occurred afterwards was entirely consistent with my grandfather continuing to deal with the property as its owner…

“As time passed, my grandfather also became increasingly dissatisfied because Ezra refused to account for monies collected from the businesses, refused to provide financial records when requested, and refused to follow his instructions concerning the management of the businesses which my grandfather maintained belonged to him,” Ms Johnson alleged.

“Those disagreements became more frequent over the years and eventually caused my grandfather to lose confidence in Ezra completely. This also spiralled into a very public social media dispute wherein Ezra made various posts online cursing out my grandfather and posted videos insulting him… As the years progressed, the relationship between my grandfather and Ezra deteriorated beyond repair.”

However, Bradley Russell countered that in relation to the Two Corner’s Inn “at no time during his lifetime did my father object to my collection of rental income, my financial contributions towards the mortgage or my management and maintenance of the property.

“His conduct was entirely consistent with the agreement and understanding between us concerning my beneficial interest in the property,” he alleged. “In the circumstances, I say that I have both a substantial equitable interest in the property and, at the very least, a serious and bona fide claim which falls to be determined at trial.”

As to the challenges to his father’s estate, Bradley Russell added: “The caveats were lodged because there are substantial concerns regarding the circumstances in which the purported will was executed, including concerns relating to my father's testamentary capacity and the possibility that undue influence was exercised by persons who ultimately benefit under the document.

“Approximately two to three years before his death, my father's health deteriorated significantly. He suffered from colon cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes and a heart condition, and was heavily medicated throughout that period.

“The circumstances surrounding the revocation of the existing power of attorney, and the subsequent execution of a new power of attorney and the purported will, are unusual and raise legitimate concerns requiring determination by the court.” He added that it was his mother and Ezra, together with himself, who cared for his father.

Ezra Russell, in addition to providing documentary evidence that he owns the gas station property, alleged: “In consideration of the financial assistance and support which I had provided to my father over many years, together with valuable monetary consideration, my father sold the said property to me for the sum of $361,000 following his release from prison.

“Following my purchase of the property, I took possession thereof and have continuously operated the gas station known as the New Bight Service Station from approximately 2002 to the present. I am the sole proprietor of that business. The general shop licence for the gas station was first issued in my name on October 15, 2002…

“During his lifetime, my father never sought to remove me from the property, interfere with my possession, prevent me from operating the gas station, demand rent or licence fees, nor otherwise assert any ownership rights inconsistent with my ownership and occupation of the property.”

Mr McKenzie, arguing on Ezra and Bradley’s behalf, asserted that granting the injunction would “fundamentally alter long-standing arrangements that existed for many years” and urged that the Supreme Court preserve “the status quo” that existed before Captain Russell’s death. Acting justice Rigby only partially agreed.

Noting Ezra Rusell’s conveyance, and the fact he has “remained in open, quiet and undisturbed possession and occupation of the service station”, acting justice Rigby declined to impose an injunction ousting him from this operation as it would cause “irremediable harm”. He took a different approach, though, to the Two Corner’s Inn and Bradley Russell, despite the latter being named as co-borrower on the Bahamas Development Bank loan which, in 2012, stood at $219,455.

The last loan payment of $1,000 was shown to have been made on June 12, 2025, with an outstanding balance of $205,505. “The first defendant [Bradley Russell] did not provide any evidence that the loan at the bank was paid by him,” acting justice Rigby ruled.

“It seems logical that if he made direct payments to the bank, he would have receipts and would have exhibited them to his affidavit. In the absence of this evidence, I am inclined to accept the claimant's contention that the rental income from the Two Corner's Inn paid the mortgage unto the bank.

“In my judgment, the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the claimant in maintaining the status quo of the rental arrangements of the tenants of the Two Corner's Inn to meet the payments to the bank to service the mortgage debt,” the judge added. “The probable conduct of the first defendant may be disruptive and may likely further the status of the arrears unto the bank.

“This conduct may also place the property in jeopardy if the rental income is not used to pay the loan, and thereby at the conclusion of the trial, the property may be the subject of an action by the bank occasioned by acts of default and breach of the covenant to pay.”

Acting justice Rigby, noting that Bradley Russell had not disputed claims of interference with 700 Wines & Spirits’ tenancy, granted the injunction against Bradley Russell to prevent him “communicating with, threatening or interfering with tenants” at Two Corner's Inn “and from demanding, collecting or receiving rents or issuing notices to quit or eviction notices in respect of any such tenants of Two Corner's Inn” until the court battle is resolved.