"My children are the only heirs to Ojukwu's property" - Bianca Ojukwu fights family

The widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca, yesterday, told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that only her children can inherit the property of the late Igbo leader because she was the only woman he legally married.

Odumegwu-Ojikwu’s brothers and Bianca are in court over the late Biafran leader’s estate.

Bianca, under cross-examination before Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, however admitted that neither her nor her children are shareholders or directors in Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL), the estate in dispute.

Mrs. Ojukwu maintained that she was the only one that was legally married amongst Ojukwu’s wives, as they had court, church and traditional marriage.

Bianca however admitted that she was aware of just one wife that was married to Ojukwu in the traditional way.

She told the court that Ojukwu had eight children who included the claimants - Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (her children).

Bianca said that the suit filed before the court was to establish and assert the right of only her children and not the other children of Ojukwu.

She further told the court that some of the disputed OTL were in the possession of her late husband before he died, adding that the rent on them, were being collected by the deceased.

Bianca had on behalf of her two children (Afamefuna and Nwachukwu) dragged OTL and seven others before the court over an alleged move by the family to eject them from the company’s property located in Lagos.

She asked the court to declare that Afamefuna and Nwachukwu are entitled to the possession and occupation of one 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).

The defendants in the suit are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr. Patrick Ojukwu, Mr. Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs. Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe & Company).

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 was illegal.

She also asked the court for a declaration that her children 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.

She stated that the property was under the possession of her husband - the father of the claimants from the time the property were released from government acquisition till date.

The claimants stated that throughout the period their father was struggling to retrieve the property 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.”

She also stated that when her husband was alive no one questioned why children were shareholders but as soon as he died the defendants joined forces to take over the property under her husband’s name and brought up the cases of other wives.

“I am the only legal wife of my late husband, Ikemba and I am fighting for my children, “Bianca said.

The judge adjourned the matter till today for the cross-examination of Bianca.