Family demands proof of marriage to Odumegwu-Ojukwu from Bianca

THE lingering family feud between the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Eze Igbo gburu gburu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and members of her late husband’s family is getting messier and more intriguing as the later are demanding proof that she was legally married to the late Ikemba Nnewi.
   In a 19-paragraph statement of defence filed by Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before Justice Funmilayo Atilade of the Lagos High Court, the family equally demanded proof that Bianca’s two sons, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, are Ikemba’s biological sons.

   The other defendants are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr. Patrick Ojukwu, Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Messrs Massey Udegbe (Massey Udegbe & Company).
   Bianca had in suit No- LD/1539/2012 filed on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants), asked the court to declare that her children are entitled to possession and occupation of the property known as No.29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the assets of the first defendant (OTL).
   At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, counsel to Bianca and her children was not in court, which necessitated Justice Atilade to adjourn till December 10 for adoption of written addresses on a motion on notice seeking to restrain the defendants from the property in dispute.
   Bianca’s children had, through their counsel, Chris Ezugwu, prayed the court to declare as illegal the threat of forceful ejection from the property. In addition, they urged the court to declare that they are entitled to possess the following property: No.13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as No.13 Ojora Road), No. 32A, Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos, No. 30, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and No. 30, McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.
   Bianca’s children 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 realisation of the struggle.”
   Besides, they are asking for an order of court restraining the defendants, their agents or privies from interfering with their possession and control of the property.
   In their statement of defence, however, the defendants, through their counsel, George Uwechue (SAN), averred that the subscribers of the OTL memorandum of association at incorporation in 1952 were L P Ojukwu and Bertram Chukwuemeka Obi, adding that the late Odumegwu Ojukwu and one Prof. Ojukwu (2nd defendant) were later appointed directors in 1953.
   According to them, the late Odumegwu Ojukwu ceased to be a director of the company prior to the Nigerian Civil War and was reappointed director on December 16, 2005, while the 3rd and 4th defendants were appointed directors in 1954 and 2005 respectively.
   They added that the claimants’ statement of claim contained tissues of lies and distorted facts, alleging that Bianca who instituted the suit, “being greedy, felt that she could hold unto the company’s properties.” Also, they stated that for over 12 years prior to his death, Odumegwu Ojukwu moved to Enugu State and since then had not lived at any of the company’s properties as alleged by the claimant.
   They further averred that the property belongs to OTL, and challenged Bianca’s children to show proof of any such agreement their late father had from OTL for him to control and/or manage its properties.

- The Guardian

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