Ojukwu’s son seeks to join as defendant in Bianca’s suit against family

The suit filed by Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, the embattled wife of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu against her husband’s family over property rights before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere has taken a new dimension as Ojukwu’s son, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Jr) is seeking to be joined as defendant in the suit.

Bianca, a former Nigerian Ambassador, had on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants) sued Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before the court over an alleged move by the Ojukwu family to eject her two sons from the company’s properties situated in Lagos.

Mentioned as 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).

During the hearing of the matter, Bianca urged the court to refuse the application filed by Emeka Junior seeking to be joined as defendant in the suit.

Emeka junior is also praying the court to join him in the suit on the grounds that he is a director of the first defendant company (OTL) and by virtue of his position, he has responsibility to look after the interest of the other children of his late father.

He also prayed the court to join him as defendant in the best interest of justice, stating that any decision in respect of the claims of Bianca’s two children in the suit so far as it relates to his father’s interest in OTL will affect him as the current head of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s family.

In a 12 paragraphs counter affidavit, Bianca’s children opposed the application on the ground that they have no claim or relief whatsoever against him in the suit.

Bianca’s children averred that the suit can be duly and properly determined without having their elder brother as a defendant in the suit.

The claimant stated further that the application was only a ploy to delay and scuttle the hearing and determination of the suit.

The company (OTL) and its property belong to the grandfather of the claimants, late Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Emeka junior averred that the claimants in the suit are the last two of the eight children of his late father and they are represented by their mother who was the last of the six wives of his late father.

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.

Justice Abdulfattah Lawal has fixed September 14, for further hearing on the application.