The rumpus surrounding the properties of late former Biafra Republic warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu continues to rage despite last week’s reading of a contentious will, as his first son, Mr. Emeka Ojukwu Jr., a former commissioner for special duties and transport in Anambra State, has revealed that he remains in charge of his father’s house at Nnewi in accordance with Ibo custom, with or without a will.
Ojukwu Jr., in fact, said he had since taken over the house since Igbo tradition stipulates that the first son automatically inherits his father’s house and compound in the event of death.
The Nnewi mansion was ceded to Emeka Jr. in the controversial will read last week in Enugu. Ojukwu’s multi–million naira commercial property located at Sokoto Road, Onitsha, had been given to his son to manage while he was still alive but it was not reflected in the will.
Emeka, already doubted the contents of the will, and is awaiting his father’s lawyer who prepared the original will to commence legal action before he contacts his own lawyer.
Also yesterday, a director at Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL), one of the companies mentioned in the will, has refused to concede the company to Bianca, as stated by the will
Mr. Ifeukwu Ojukwu, the US-based director, said the company, owned by their late grandfather, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, is a different property from the private property of late Ikemba Nnewi. He, therefore, argued that Bianca would not claim the trusteeship of the company as conferred on her in the will.
“Bianca was neither a trustee member, nor a director of OTL and it is good to note that OTL is a different property from the things late Ikemba Nnewi left behind because the directorship cannot be transferred through a will,” Ifeukwu Ojukwu said. “I attended a meeting of OTL directors and Bianca was not there and she is not even a member of the board of directors and she cannot lay claim to that.”
He revealed that all OTL directors as well as members of the family are in full support of Emeka Ojukwu (Jr.) in his decisions, as the first son and the head of the Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu family..
The will read last week had allotted trusteeship of the company to Bianca, much to the disappointment of the eldest son, who has described it as “untrue and improper.”
