Ojukwu’s Property: Absence Of Bianca Stalls Suit Against Husband’s Family
The ongoing legal battle between the widow of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu and his brothers over the family estate was yesterday stalled due to her absence in court.
Mrs. Ojukwu had on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants) dragged Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere over an alleged move by the family to eject her sons from their late father’s properties located in Lagos.
She 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 Street, Ikoyi Lagos until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the assets of the first defendant (OTL).
The defendants in the suit are; Prof Joseph Ojukwu, Engr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu, Arc Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe & Company).
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to the defendants Chief George Uwechue (SAN) informed the court of a letter signed by Bianca’s lawyer, Chioma Okoro stating that Bianca won’t be in court because of a meeting with the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation Secretary General, Dr. Taleb Rafai scheduled for November 9, 2015.
The letter dated October 23 reads in part ‘’the claimants witness, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, who is the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, is meeting with UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary General, Dr. Taleb Rafai on 9th November, 2015 in Spain. Kindly find attached a copy of the UNWTO’S letter on the proposed meeting’’.
The trial judge, Justice Abdulfattah Lawal said that though the court did not receive a copy of the letter he would give the claimant the benefit of the doubt and adjourned the suit still December 11 for trial.
In the suit, Bianca, and her two children, had in their statement of claim, prayed the court to declare that the threat of forceful ejection from 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street by the defendants is illegal.
She is also asking the court for a declaration that her children are entitled to possess the following property, namely: No 13 Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as No. 13 Ojora road); No 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; No. 30 McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.
According to her, the properties were under the possession of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu 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 realisation of the struggle.”
