Dim Ojukwu and Bianca

By Akin Kuponiyi

A Lagos State High Court today,  granted  the request of Bianca,  widow of Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu,  to re-open her evidence-in-chief, in the suit she filed against her husband’s family.

Mrs. Ojukwu  on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants) dragged Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before the court over an alleged move by the family to eject her sons from the company’s properties located in Lagos.

The company (OTL) and its property belonged  to the father of the late former Biafran warlord.

Other 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).

Bianca who had earlier testified before the court on the suit made a U-turn, filing two separate applications, seeking for leave of the court, to allow her amend her writs of summon, statement of claims and also to re-open her evidence in chief.

All the respondents in the suit did not oppose the applications. At the resumed hearing of suit today, Justice Abdulfattah Lawal granted all her prayers and ordered her to re-open her Evidence-in-Chief on June 3,2016.

In her earlier evidence before the court,  the widow told the court that she is the only wife  that was legally married among Ojukwu’s wives, as she was engaged in court, Church and traditional marriage.

She 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.

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.

The matter has been adjourned till 3rd of June,2016 for continuation of hearing.