I’m The Only Legal Wife Of Ojukwu, Bianca Tells Court

The trial in 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 commenced yesterday before a Lagos state High
Court sitting at Igbosere.

Mrs Ojukwu in her evidence in chief before Justice
Abdulfattah Lawal, admitted that neither her nor her children are shareholders
or directors in Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL.

She also admitted that Ojukwu has eight children which
includes the claimants, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, adding that she is the only
one that was legally married among Ojukwu’s wives, as she engaged in court,
Church and traditional marriage.

Bianca, under cross examination also told the court that the
suit that was filed before the court is only for the right of her 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, adding that the rent of those properties were being collected by
her husband.

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 the company’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; Arch. 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 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 and 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.”

However, the judge adjourned the matter till today, for
continuation of cross examination of Bianca.

Vanguard