Date Published: 08/05/11

Trouble in Ojukwu's Home as Children scheme for Properties

Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu

As the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu battles stroke in a London hospital, there seems to be trouble brewing at home as his sons may be scheming to legally take possession of his properties in Ikoyi, Lagos and Enugu.

Leading the onslaught against the ailing Biafra warlord is his first son, an attorney, Sylvester Debe Odumegwu Okukwu. On his side is his brother, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jnr.

They had approached a Lagos High Court on June 28 for an  exparte motion that may be connected with properties of the Ikemba.

An ex parte judicial proceeding is conducted for the benefit of only one party. Ex parte may also describe contact with a person represented by an attorney, outside the presence of the attorney. The term ex parte is used in a case name to signify that the suit was brought by the person whose name follows the term.

Ex parte judicial proceedings are usually reserved for urgent matters where requiring notice would subject one party to irreparable harm. For example, a person suffering abuse at the hands of a spouse or significant other may seek ex parte a Temporary Restraining Order from a court, directing the alleged abuser to stay away from him or her. Ex parte judicial proceedings are also used to stop irreparable injury to property. For example, if two neighbors, Reggie and Veronica, disagree over whose property a tree stands on, and Reggie wants to cut down the tree whereas Veronica wants to save it, Veronica can seek an ex parte hearing before a judge.

The claimants listed in suit NO: LD/794/2011 before Justice O.A Adefope Okojie, are Ogbonna Ojukwu, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Silver Convention Nigeria Limited.  

The defendants are Ojukwu Transport, Professor Joseph Ojukwu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel Ojukwu , Lotanna Ojukwu, and Massey Udegbe.

Justice Adefope- Okojie after listening to counsel to the claimants, Kayode Ayorinde, made an order for substituted service on Prof Ojukwu, the Ikemba and Emmanuel Ojukwu at No 26, Park Avenue , GRA Enugu, No 7 Forest Crescent, GRA Enugu and No 24 Isiuzo Stree, Independence Layout.

According to recent reports, Ojukwu may not be in any position to return to the country very soon as there has not been any significant improvement in his health since he was rushed to the United Kingdom last year.

Ojukwu is still on admission and on life support machine at the intensive care unit of Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, West Berkshire, where he was moved to on 27 June following anxiety over a fresh chest infection which worsened his condition.

Royal Berkshire is an NHS hospital but it was not clear if British tax payers are picking Ojukwu’s health bills.  

According to PM News,Ojukwu  is on admission at the Ememer Green ward of the hospital and the only person keeping him company  was Bob Enyeama who described himself as chief of staff to the former Biafran warlord.  

Though he insisted that the Eze Ndigbo was “in good health”, P.M.NEWS observed that Ojukwu was bed-ridden, appeared to be still with eyes constantly staring at the ceiling. Enyeama later chased the P.M.NEWS correspondent out of the ward when he knew about his mission. But a member of staff of the hospital told P.M.NEWS that they are waiting for the family members of the Biafran warlord to decide if the life support he is on should be switched off.