Debe not known to us as Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s son, family tells court

A GRANDSON of the late Sir Louis Ojukwu, founder of Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL), Lotanna Ojukwu, has countered the prayers of Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the purported first son of the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is seeking the leave of court to enforce his fundamental human rights as a member of the family.
Lotanna, in a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to before a Federal High Court in Lagos stated that Debe was never a grandson of Sir Lious Ojukwu. “The applicant, to the best of my knowledge, as well as to the Ojukwu family, is not and has never been a grandchild of the late Sir L.P.O. Ojukwu”, he swore, stressing that all the respondents did know him as a son of Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Debe had sued OTL, asking the court to enforce his fundamental human rights. Joined in the suit are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna, Bianca Ojukwu, Patricia Ojukwu, Mrs. Margaret Mogbo (nee Ojukwu), Inspector-General of Police, former Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Ibrahim Muktar and Mike Okoli, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anambra State.
The applicant, in his originating motion, sought the court to declare that serial and sustained threat by the second, third and fourth respondents during a meeting with the applicant in Lagos to maim or kill him if he did not stop interfering with the management of property owned OTL (first respondent) violates his right to life as guaranteed by the constitution.
He also wants a declaration that his denial and exclusion by the respondents from performing the dust-to-dust funeral rites during the burial of his father, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was unconstitutional, illegal and wrong. According to him, such act violates his fundamental rights to the dignity of his person and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed by the constitution.
In his 57-paragraph affidavit, Debe maintains that he is a bonafide member of Ojukwu family born to Emeka Ojukwu of Umudim Nnewi, Anambra State and his wife Margaret, on August 3, 1956. He averred that he was having a flourishing career in the Nigerian Police Force when his services were suddenly truncated at the instance of the second, third, fourth and fifth respondents who came begging him to go and manage OTL on their behalf even though they did not contribute anything to his upbringing.
“All the children and grandchildren of the founder of the first respondent had enjoyed full care, attention, nurture and qualitative education at the expense of the estate as stipulated by the said founder, the late Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, but all of these were denied me by the respondents till date,” he claimed.
But Lotanna, in response, denied the allegations and described the application as misconceived and replete with falsehood, adding that the Ojukwu family is not aware of any Margaret ever being a wife of the late Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
He said: “ In further answer to the above more particularly paragraph 34 of the affidavit in support of motion, it is on record that the applicant who was given some of the property of the first respondent to manage for 12 years starting from 1995 to 2007 did not make any returns to the first respondent. The first respondent decided not to renew the management agreement it had with the applicant. The applicant instituted suit No. LD/794/2011 against the first respondent and some of its directors. The suit is still pending in the court as at date.”
The issue of being the first son of the late Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and performing the burial rites are before a Lagos High Court, which the applicant is asking to declare that he is the eldest son of the deceased.
The matter is before Justice Okon Abang who has adjourned it to April 12.

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