In a recent development, the High Court in Enugu State has made a decision in favor of Bianca, the widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, recognizing her as the rightful beneficiary of the late Igbo leader’s estate.
This ruling was issued following a lawsuit brought by Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Chief Debe had taken the legal action in an attempt to establish himself as the first son of the late Dim Ojukwu.
He also sought a court order to prevent Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu from interfering in the administration of the estate, claiming that Dim Ojukwu had died without a valid will.
The late Biafran leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu, passed away on November 26, 2011.
In his will, Dim Ojukwu named his wife, Bianca, and Mr. James Ezike as trustees and executors of his estate.
The legal dispute, which began in 2013, was centered on Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu challenging the legitimacy of Dim Ojukwu’s will. Despite claiming to be the deceased’s first son, Chief Debe was not acknowledged as such in the will.
The court, led by Hon. Justice A.O. Onovo of the Enugu High Court, considered whether the plaintiff had provided sufficient evidence to prove his paternity and if the will of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was valid.
Chief Debe Ojukwu passed away in 2018 during the ongoing legal proceedings, prompting his daughters, Nene Grace and Obianuju Sarah, to seek to replace him in the lawsuit.
Despite objections from the defendants’ counsel, the court allowed the substitution.
In his lengthy verdict, Justice Onovo concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish the plaintiff’s acknowledgment by Dim Ojukwu as his biological son during the latter’s lifetime.
The judge emphasized that the acknowledgment of paternity must be clear and could not solely rely on public opinion.
The court also upheld the validity of Dim Ojukwu’s will, dismissing the claims of typographical errors and affirming its legal standing.
Regarding the grandchildren’s right to challenge the will, Justice Onovo stated that since the plaintiff failed to prove his paternity, his children had no basis for challenging the will.
Thus, the judge ruled that there was no legal merit to the case brought by the plaintiff’s children.