BIANCA: THE BATTLE FOR IKEMBA’S LEGACY

Despite initial doubts, she has a successful marriage to Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwi-Ojukwu, with three children, a 16-year marriage, and a five-year friendship. Some tried to scare her and her children out of their inheritance after her husband’s death. She fought a 10-year legal battle for her husband’s estate. Dame Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu persevered.
There were rumors that the Onohs and Ojukwus are family friends and that Ikemba was Bianca’s godfather. The reunion strained friendships.

The couple married lavishly in 1994 after she became a lawyer.

1989. Rumors started it! Lawyer, politician, and former governor of Old Anambra state, Chief Christian Onoh, is dating Bianca, Nigeria’s most beautiful girl, who is also the daughter of Soldier, Politician, and former Head of State, Republic of Biafra. Gossip exploded. Soft-sell magazine era. Social media was unknown. Bianca, 21, was a beauty contest and law student. Ojukwu, a 55-year-old statesman and war hero, was retired.
      After marriage, Ikemba focused on his wife. Like David and Bathsheba, he remained unmarried until he died. Bianca was envied by all. She succeeded while others’ marriages collapsed due to their tantrums about her love affairs.

Not surprising when her husband left her most of his assets in his 2012 will. More family strife resulted. Bianca asked critics to let Ikemba “rest in peace.” She praised his honor and integrity, and said his will was registered in 2005 with legal witnesses and executors still alive.

Family still disputed will. Bianca fought a 10-year legal battle in Lagos High Court to prevent eviction from her home with her children.

Bianca and Ikemba’s children faced eviction a year after his death in 2011. In suit LD/1539/2012, seven defendants, including Ojukwu’s siblings and relatives, were evicted. Parties sought court support for arguments on Ojukwu Transport Ltd.’s asset management over 10 years.

OTL, a family business, was directed by Ikemba Nnewi until his death in 2011.

Bianca filed a case on behalf of her two sons against OTL and seven others for trying to take their residence and property in Lagos.

The 2012 lawsuit involves OTL, Prof Joseph Ojukwu, Engr. Emmanuel, Lotanna Putalora, Dr. Patrick lke, Arch. Edward, Lota Akajiora, and Massey Udegbe (Massey Udegbe & Company).

Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, minors, sued through their mother Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu. The boys are Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s biological sons, and Mrs. Ojukwu was his legal wife.

Justice Lawal upheld Omeye’s arguments on June 24 after reviewing 10 years of evidence.

The judgment ruled that the claimants, as biological offspring of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, are entitled to his inheritance and rights.

Late evening. Emeka, Bianca

Justice Lawal stated that as a court of equity, the claimants, who are children of a foundation director, cannot be evicted while other directors control and benefit from the 1st defendant’s property.

The court ruled in favor of the claimants, allowing them to own and control OTL, their father’s corporation.

The judge ruled that the company allowed the 1st defendant’s family to live on and profit from its assets for years.

He said the 2nd defendant, who would not share control of the property, can not kick out the deceased director’s children from their father’s property.

The judge supported Omeye’s petition and dismissed the defendants’ complaint.

Claimants entitled to possession of No. 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, until 1st defendant’s asset management is harmonized.

Bianca’s grieving spouse

Defendants’ threat to evict claimants from No.29 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Koyi, Lagos, is illegal.

The claimants are entitled to the possession of several properties in Ikoyi and Yaba, Lagos, which belonged to their late father after they were released from government acquisition. These properties include No 13 Hawksworth Rd (now No 13 Ojora Rd), No 32A Commercial Avenue, No. 30 Gerard Rd, and No. 4 Macpherson Ave.

The 2nd to 8th defendants are prohibited from interfering with the claimants’ control of the listed properties.

Plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr. Nick Omeye, made four arguments and requested a favorable ruling.

He asked the court to rule that the defendants evicted the claimants from a house in Lagos that belonged to Chief Emeka Ojukwu and his children. The defendants, who are also children of Sir Louis Ojukwu and directors of the first defendant, kept the properties.

He said the Claimants should have the properties at (a) No 13 Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and (b) 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos. 30 Gerard Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos. The property at 4 Macpherson Avenue, lkoyi, Lagos, belongs to the Claimants’ late father, Chief Emeka Ojukwu. The 1st Defendant wants all other properties owned by the other shareholders and children of Late Sir Louis Ojukwu to be surrendered and managed by an approved Estate Manager.

He claims the Claimants should get a court order to stop the 1st to 8th Defendants from evicting them from various properties. The Claimants’ late father owned one of the properties, and the other properties owned by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants and their children should be given to the 1st Defendant and managed by an approved Estate Manager.

He argued against the Defendants’ counterclaim.

After the appointment, the 4th Defendant informed Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu about the 2nd and 7th Defendants’ desire to acquire the properties.

The 8th Defendant’s Solicitors threatened to evict the Claimants from No 29 Queens Drive, lkoyi in letters dated 14 and 17 September 2012. The 8th Defendant asked the Claimants’ acquaintance to give them the disputed properties.

The 8th Defendant and his counsel posted a notice in Thisday Newspaper on August 14, 2012, warning occupants of the properties not to interact with them.

Dr. Patrick Ojukwu, the 5th Defendant, threatened to evict the Claimants and Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu from their properties in The Sun Newspaper on September 23, 2012.

Chief Ojukwu’s will stated that his wife, Mrs. Banca, should keep his interest in No 29 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, and join the Ojukwu Transport Limited Board.

The 2nd to 4th Defendants kept and profited from the 1st Defendant’s properties, sharing the rents with the Claimants and their mother without permission.

Afamefuna and Nwachukwu requested five court reliefs in a modified Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim filed by Nick Omeye Esq. and Chris Ezugwu Esq. of Faith Attorneys on May 3, 2016. They are.

The defendants’ eviction threat is illegal.

The claimants are entitled to the possession of several properties previously owned by their late father. These properties include No 13 Hawksworth Rd, Ikoyi (now No 13 Ojora Rd, |koyi); No 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No. 30 Gerard Rad, Ikoyi, Lagos; and No. 4 Macpherson Ave, ikoyi, Lagos.

Prohibit defendants 2-8 from interfering with claimants’ possession of Late Chief Odumegwu’s 5 Listed properties.

Claimants and their mother reside at No 29 Queens Drive (now No 28 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive) Ikoyi, Lagos, with the properties in question. Ojukwu, his wife Bianca, and the Claimants lived at No 29 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, from 1985.

Sir Louis Ojukwu, Chief Ojukwu’s father, bought the properties. Sir Louis Ojukwu owned the first defendant. The 2nd Defendant, Late Chef Emeka Ojukwu, Bethram Obi, and 4th Defendant are also shareholders.

Sir Louis Ojukwu’s 25 estates were occupied by his children, including the 2nd Defendant, Late Chief Emeka Ojukwu (the Claimants’ father), and the 3rd and 4th Defendants.

Besides the houses of Sir Louis Ojukwu’s children, the 2nd Defendant owned properties in Onitsha and Port Harcourt and collected rents for his support.

The late Chief Emeka Ojukwu lived at No. 29 Queens Drive, Ikoyi, and collected rents from four other properties in Lagos: No. 13 Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi, 324 Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos, No. 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, and No. 4 Macpherson Avenue.

The 4th Defendant is a shareholder and son of Late Sir Louis Ojukwu. He lives at No. 19, Mekuenwen Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and earns rental income from two other properties. The 3rd Defendant managed properties and collected rents.

The Claimants’ father asked the Defendants to hire an Estate Manager for the properties, but the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants refused.

Since the late 1960s, the 2nd Defendant managed the 1st Defendant’s properties in Onitsha and Port Harcourt without accountability. From 1993, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Defendants managed 19 Lagos State properties without accounting for rents, excluding the Claimants’ late father.

On August 4, 2011, the 4th to 7th Defendants were appointed Directors of the 1st Defendant while the Claimants’ father was hospitalized in London. The 4th-7th Defendants attempted to seize No. 29 Queens Drive (now Oyinkan Abayomi Street) while the Claimants’ father was in the hospital, but private security guards intervened.