Widow of late late Ikemba of Nnewi,
Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu has on Monday, February
1, 2016 told an Igbosere High Court, Lagos, that she was the only legal
wife of the deceased husband.
She said this during the
commencement of trial in the legal battle between her and the other
family members over the family estate.
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| Bianca,Ojukwu and their three children (Photo Credit: African Sun Times) |
Bianca had instituted the case on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu.
She is asking the court to determine
the legitimate owners of Ojukwu Transport Ltd (OTL) and to stop an
alleged move by the family to eject her sons from the company’s
properties located in Lagos.
Bianca, in her evidence in chief
before Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, told the court that neither her nor
her children were shareholders or directors in OTL.
She said that Ojukwu had eight children, including her under-aged children, who are claimants in the case.
She told the court that she was the
only woman legally married to Ojukwu, because her court, Church and
traditional marriage rights were performed.
Bianca, during cross examination also
told the court that the suit was filed to ascertain the right of her
own children and not other children of Ojukwu.
The witness further informed the
court that some of the OTL properties in question had been in the
possession of her late husband before his demise.
She added that the rents of those properties were being collected by her husband.
Bianca had asked the court to declare
that her children are entitled to the possession and occupation of one
of the properties known as No. 29, Oyinkan Abayomi St., Ikoyi, Lagos.
She asked the court to declare this
until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the
assets of the first defendant –(OTL).
The defendants in the suit include: Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu.
Others are Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe & Company).
In the suit, Bianca, had in her
statement of claim, prayed the court to declare that the threat of
forceful ejection from 29 Oyinkan Abayomi St., by the defendants was
illegal.
She is also asking the court for a
declaration that her children are entitled to possess the following
properties, namely: No. 13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as No. 13,
Ojora road).
Also, No 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 30 McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.
According to her, the properties are
under the possession of the late Ojukwu-the father of the claimants from
the time the properties were released from government acquisition till
date.
The claimants stated that throughout
the period their father was struggling to retrieve the properties from
the government, the second to seventh defendants “never played any role
in the struggle, nor contributed financially or otherwise to the
realization of the struggle.”
However, the Judge adjourned the case till Tuesday February 2, 2016, for continuation of cross examination. (NAN)
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