Some
members of the Ojukwu family have asked the Nigerian Ambassador to
Spain, Bianca Ojukwu, to show proof that she was legally married to the
late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu.
In
a 19-paragraph statement of defence filed by Ojukwu Transport Limited
and seven others before Justice Funmilayo Atilade of the Lagos High
Court, the family equally demanded proof from Bianca that her two sons,
Afamefuna and Nwachukwu are biological sons of Odimegwu- Ojukwu.
The
other defendants 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).
Bianca
had in suit No: LD/1539/2012 filed on behalf of her two under-aged
children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants), wants the court to
declare that her children are entitled to the 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
the suit 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 lawyer; Chris Ezugwu, prayed the court to
declare as illegal the threat of forceful ejection from 29, Oyinkan
Abayomi Street, by the defendants.
In
addition, they urged the court to declare that they 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.
Bianca’s
children said throughout the period their father was struggling to
retrieve the properties from the government, the second to the seventh
defendants “never played any role in the struggle nor contributed
financially or otherwise to the realisation of the struggle.”
Besides,
the claimant is asking for an order of court restraining the
defendants, their agents or privies from interfering with the
claimants’possesion and control of the properties.
But,
in their statement of defence, the 1st to the 7th defendants through
their lawyer, George Uwechue, SAN, averred that the subscribers of the
memorandum of association of Ojukwu Transport Limited (1st defendant) at
incorporation in 1952 were L. P. Ojukwu and Betram Chukwuemeka Obi,
adding that the late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu and one Prof. Joseph
Ojukwu (2nd defendant) were later appointed as directors in 1953.
They
stated that late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu- Ojukwu thereafter ceased to be a
director of the company prior to the Nigerian civil war and was
reappointed as a 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.”
Story Credit; Thisday
Story Credit; Thisday
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