In a landmark judgement, the High Court in Enugu has ruled decisively in favour of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of Biafra leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, amidst a contentious lawsuit brought by Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu had laid claim to being the first son of the late Dim Ojukwu, seeking formal recognition by the court and aiming to curtail Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s involvement in the administration of the estate.
He also contested the existence of a will left by the late Ojukwu, asserting his entitlement to the estate.
The legal saga, which began in 2013 with Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu’s challenge to the validity of Ojukwu’s will, reached a culmination with the recent court ruling.
Despite the late Ojukwu’s will omitting any mention of Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu, the court grappled with assessing the evidence surrounding the paternity claim and the legitimacy of the will.
Tragically, Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu passed away in 2018, prompting his daughters, Nene Grace and Obianuju Sarah, to pursue the lawsuit on his behalf.
The court, after contentious deliberation, permitted their substitution as plaintiffs, marking a pivotal juncture in the legal proceedings.
Justice A.O. Onovo, presiding over the case, delivered a verdict echoing the sentiments of the late Ojukwu’s will.
Notably, the court emphasized the necessity of concrete evidence to establish paternity, dismissing Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu’s claims of recognition by the deceased.
Public opinion, Justice Onovo stressed, cannot suffice as proof of paternity.
Moreover, the court affirmed the validity of Ojukwu’s will and codicil, rebuffing attempts to contest its authenticity.
Addressing the rights of Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu’s children to challenge the will, the court mandated a demonstration of their status as legitimate beneficiaries.
With their father’s failure to substantiate his filial relationship with Ojukwu, the court concluded that his children lacked standing to contest the will.
In a resounding victory for Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the court upheld the integrity of Ojukwu’s will, refuting Chief Debe Odumegwu Ojukwu’s claims and safeguarding the estate from contested inheritance.
