CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


The battle for supremacy over an inheritance has engulfed a family following the adoption of a male child in Umuchu town in Aguata Local government, Anambra State.

The battle is between a widow simply known as Fidelia and her late husband’s brother, Cosmos on who will inherit the late John’s property in the family.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered the fight which started from the family to the police has gone up to the High Court in Anambra and yet seemed unabated.

It was gathered that the late John married Fidelia some years back and they had two daughters before he became sick and died three years ago.

Before then, John and Fidelia had started the process of adopting a male child before he died.

Fidelia completed the process thereafter and adopted the male child.

Meanwhile, Cosmos who was late John’s younger brother also married and had his own children both male and female and he is now the eldest in the family.

It was gathered that in Umuchu Community, when a man died without having a male child, the brother will inherit both his wife and the property as their customs and tradition demanded.

The female children have no right over the family property because it was expected that they will marry.

But Fidelia disagreed and claimed that her husband had children including the adopted son and therefore her late husband’s property belonged to them.

But Cosmos insisted that when his brother was alive, he had no male child as such he was the rightful person that will inherit the wife, his property and train the children he left behind according to their customs and tradition.

On the status of the adopted child, Cosmos claimed that he was not part of the family and he had no right to inherit anything in the family.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Cosmos attempt to take possession of the wife and property had caused serious friction between him and the widow to the extent the matter has become a subject of litigation.

It was gathered that the members of the family were divided on how to handle the perceived complex nature of the matter because of the adopted male child.

Some of the family members said that Cosmos was right because his late brother did not complete the process of adoption and did not introduce the adopted child to the family before he died.

Some said such culture and tradition was outdated and since the late John started the process of the adoption, though he did not complete it before he died that male child belonged to him.

The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Goddy Ezechukwu could not intervene and settle the matter before it was taken to court and it was not known how the rift will be finally settled.

lalasticlala

thorpido:
Culture sometimes hinders justice.An adopted son is a son.
Let the court decide.

coolcatty:



Say what u know. ... I don't believe in adoption.... I rather have all female kids than adopt a son..... Let no one come and spoil my bloodline as I don't know the bloodline of the adopted child.


The woman messed up by adopting a son after her husband's death... She should have insisted on the properties bequeathed to her daughters....


Let the properties be bequeathed to the daughters of the man.... Most daughters are more useful than male kids sef....let the court reprimand the woman for adopting a child after the man's death and give all the properties to the female kids.

coolcatty:



Say what u know.... I don't believe in adoption.... I rather have all female kids than adopt a son..... Let no one come and spoil my bloodline as I don't know the bloodline of the adopted child.


The woman messed up by adopting a son after her husband's death... She should have insisted on the properties bequeathed to her daughters....


Let the properties be bequeathed to the daughters of the man.... Most daughters are more useful than male kids sef....let the court reprimand the woman for adopting a child after the man's death and give all the properties to the female kids.

thorpido:
You actually should have commented on what you understand
That you don't believe in doption does not annul the legality of it.Adoption is backed up by law.
Did you read that the man initiated the process of adoption before he died and it was not the woman's idea alone?

delishpot:



Because e better for you na.... if you were unfortunate to need someone to take you in as a young child I am sure you would not be happy to hear someone discourage who wants to adopt you with those words. Such is life.

coolcatty:


I understand where u are coming from but I rather get my trusted brother to donate his semen than opt for adopting a total stranger with tainted bloodline.

delishpot:



Tainted bloodline doesnt exist. It is just your ego making that claim. Even your own child can turn wild while an adopted one will care for you like he is your blood. Tame your ego and work with open heart and hand.

delishpot:
And tomorrow they will say women have no cause to demand equal right. This alone is a shame. He wants to inherit woman in this day and age. This is a lesson to women..... find out the character, custom and traditions of a mans people before you marry him. Stop stupidly thinking that love is all you need. Shit may hit the fan and love may not be enough proof to buy back your peace of mind.

coolcatty:


I rather deal with my kids ego and wahala than cope with an adopted child's good deeds.... Heck I will be so damn disappointed if my child doesn't inherit my legendary intelligence and stubbornness.....

I have my reservation towards adoption.... Kindly respect it.

Regards

delishpot:


I am not disrespecting your reservation, of what use are we if we can not try to make others see 5uings from our point of view too? Na wa sha. So if someone tries to make you see things from another angle, it means they are disrespecting your reservation? Is that the mindset you have? Ngwanu, no vex.

coolcatty:


Sincere apologies if I sounded harsh... No vex abeg.....

But I'm talking from personal experience...i will never support anyone that adopts a child to succeed him.... You can adopt a child to help impact on the society... But not for the child to succeed u... Most adopted kids are ungrateful, rude and insolence and will leave their adopted parents in future to look for their real parents.

I don't have time for that kind of drama jare.

baby124:
It's the SE culture that causes this. Believe it or not, these brother's have a right to that property because it is most likely a family property. From my friends I have come to understand that first son's hold their father's property as a main custodian and can use it as they deem fit. When they die, it goes to the next son. That is a big problem because women who feel comfortable on such a property in their husband's custody are sitting on a ticking time bomb. The first son cannot will such property to his own family, even after all the comfort such property brought him in his lifetime. This is the same problem that came up with Ojukwu. I think to prevent such stories parents should share property at their death. Not handing over all the property to one child. It's so unfair to the others and causes big problems in future.

TheArchangel:
That is not how inheritance are shared.
In Igbo land, the obi belongs to the first son and the mgbuke belongs to the lastborn. Obi here means the main house where the father receives visitors which can vary in size depending on how buoyant the father is, then the mgbuke is where the mother lives or the kitchen side. Some fathers before they died share their properties and lands to their sons where they will build their own houses., but the obis and mgbukes is the exclusive of the first and last sons and including their own overall share. Take Psquare for example. Jude gets the Obi while Peter abi Paul gets the mgbuke. Then the middle son is given a portion outside the compound . Then the rest of the properties either In Jos or Abagana are shared equally.
Some people often give out lands to their last son if the mgbu

baby124:

This is not the culture for a friend of mine. He as the first son got all the properties and he is developing them and using his father's money as he wishes. He told me he has to provide for his younger ones with the money. That was the same with Ojukwu which caused the court case. The culture must vary by location. This is something I heard from the horses mouth, not a gist. Now, if something is community property then the wives and her kids do not have full right to it. Which is why this issue seems to come up. This close friend of mine explained the situation to me.

TheArchangel:
He collected all?.? Same with my brother in law until his brothers came of age and it was shared equally......it doesn't mean it is his. It is like giving it to the eldest for safe. keeping until the younger ones come of age. Which of the Ojukwus properties are we talking about. Emeka or his father Sir Louis?

TheArchangel:
That is not how inheritance are shared.
In Igbo land, the obi belongs to the first son and the mgbuke belongs to the lastborn. Obi here means the main house where the father receives visitors which can vary in size depending on how buoyant the father is, then the mgbuke is where the mother lives or the kitchen side. Some fathers before they died share their properties and lands to their sons where they will build their own houses., but the obis and mgbukes is the exclusive of the first and last sons and including their own overall share. Take Psquare for example. Jude gets the Obi while Peter abi Paul gets the mgbuke. Then the middle son is given a portion outside the compound . Then the rest of the properties either In Jos or Abagana are shared equally.
Some people often give out lands to their last son if the mgbu

NoToPile:


Anything for the females?