Reasons why Ojukwu disowned Sylvester as first son in his Will

Ojukwu’s lawyer, Mr. Emeka Onyemelukwe, has explained the circumstances surrounding the “omission” of Sylvester in the will.

According to Onyemelukwe, “What happened is that Debe came to Ikemba as a grown adult and said: “Sir, I have come to tell you that my mum said you’re my father. Ojukwu said to him, ‘who is your mother,’ and he said she is late but hailed from Udi in Udi council area of Enugu state.

“He also told the Ikemba that the mother got remarried to a man in a community in Ezeagu council area in the same state before she died but had told him that he (Ojukwu) was his father. He then asked him if she had no brothers or sisters that could traditionally bring and introduce him as the son of their sister sired by him

“He didn’t even bring a photograph of his mum to guide Ojukwu as a reminder. But he left in the belief that he will come back with his mother’s kinsmen as directed but hadn’t done that till Ojukwu died.”

Meanwhile, Emeka (Jnr.) has taken over the father’s residence in Nnewi, in accordance with the Igbo tradition that the first son would automatically and traditionally inherit his father’s house and compound after death.

Emeka (Jnr.) noted that it was left for his father’s lawyer, who prepared the original will to take action before he (Emeka) would contact his lawyer for any possible litigation.

Similarly, the extended Ojukwu-Muojekwu family has kept mum over the matter, as according to a source, who pleaded anonymity, “the matter is a complicated but very simple if everybody can tell themselves the truth. We knew our brother Ikemba and we knew him as a first class brain who would not want his family name to become a thing of public ridicule.”

But Ojukwu’s lawyer, citing several circumstances and occasions to prove the validity of the will noted that he was the one who prepared it and it was the only will prepared by the late Ikemba. The will was read last weekend by the Chief Registrar and Probate Registrar of Enugu High Court Dennis Ekoh.

At a press conference in Enugu, Onyemelukwe maintained that he had been Ojukwu’s lawyer for many years and that the late Ikemba of Nnewi reposed a lot of confidence in him and told him a lot of things. He faulted the claim by Emeka (Jnr.) that he was not informed of the reading of the will and that he was not known to the family as his father’s lawyer, explaining that he sent three text messages to his three phones on November 26.

He said he also sent messages to the executioner of the will, James Ezike and witness, Mark Ezemba, as well as the other brothers and sisters of Emeka (Jnr) and other children of Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu informing them of the reading of the will by 10 am on November 30.

He said that he possessed the irrevocable power of attorney to register No 7 Forest Crescent in Independence Layout, Enugu, which he did on July 24, 2009, with the Enugu State Ministry of Lands as well as the property at No 20 Cadastral, B9, located at Jabi, Abuja, both of which were given to Bianca.

He also said that he had Ojukwu’s brief and represented him in the Supreme Court matter, Emeka Ojukwu Vs IGP, SSS in suit No: SC/170/2006 when the SSS tried to arrest him during the Obasanjo presidency. He said the late Ikemba declared that he had eight children, namely: Tenni Hamman, (daughter), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, (Jnr.) (son), Mmegha (Mimi) (daughter), Okigbo (son), Ebele (daughter), Chineme (daughter), Afam (Son) and Nwachukwu (son).

While Tenni Hamman, he said was a girl Ojukwu had with a girlfriend from North-eastern Nigeria, Ebele was sired with one of his earlier wives, Stella Onyeador, while Emeka (Jnr.), Okigbo and Mmegha were from Njideka his Nnofia-born wife, and the children from Bianca.

He explained that it was the reason the codicil, which was meant to correct the flaws in the first will, was enlarged, adding that he was even taken aback that Ojukwu willed his Nnewi house to his first son, Emeka (Jnr.).

According to him, Bianca was instrumental to building the storey building when Ojukwu’s bungalow in the compound got burnt. The mansion was built when Ojukwu was in charge of toll gates during the Abacha regime.

He explained that Emeka (Jnr.) had been hostile to Bianca and that the bitterness manifested during the one-year anniversary of Ojukwu’s death, hence Bianca decision after the anniversary to pack her belongings out of the family house.

“So, it is not true that Ikemba Nnewi only gave Emeka (Jnr.) the Nnewi house in his will. He felt he already had something to sustain him.

“But he gave Bianca the Jabi property and the Enugu property by deed of gift before he died meaning that even if these were included in the will, she inherited them from him before he died.

“There is also no way anybody can take them away from her. He also gave her his cash (money) and personal effects because he felt that after he had trained the other grown up children, he may not be around to train the younger children of Bianca. That is also the reason he felt Bianca should take over his seat at Ojukwu Transport Limited,” Onyemelukwe explained.