BY MOYINOLUWA BAMIDELE-LUCAS
Josephine Ndubuisi Kanu, one of the wives of the former Military Administrator of Lagos and Imo States, the late Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, has asked a Lagos High Court to recognise her children as heirs to the estate of the deceased.
She is praying the court to recognise the children she had for the late military administrator.
Counsel to Josephine, Ben Ediowere, had in an application prayed that all the records of the court reflect that Josephine was a wife to Kanu.
“She also has two children from the union who are entitled to the estate,” he said.
Responding, Justice Christopher Balogun asked if Josephine and her late husband were married under the Matrimonial Causes Act.
Ediowere responded in the negative.
“After sorting out the issues with the burial of the former Governor of Lagos, I was expecting that on subsequent court dates, you will be filing terms of settlement
“
The judge noted that the Act only recognises one wife but under the law, the children of the union are entitled to the estate.
The lawyer also informed the court that the other wife of the deceased, Gladys Kanu, had filed another suit in Abia State over the estate.
“This court has no jurisdiction over landed property in Abia State,” the judge responded.
Counsel to Gladys, John Duru, said that he had filed a writ on behalf of his client, asking the Nigerian Navy to pay all that the deceased was entitled to as a high ranking officer.
Earlier during proceedings, Justice Balogun had expressed surprise that family members were filing various applications through their counsel which would kick start a squabble over the estate.
He said, “After sorting out the issues with the burial of the former Governor of Lagos, I was expecting that on subsequent court dates, you will be filing terms of settlement.
“However, I am not ordering that you should go for settlement, it is only advice. If you cannot settle, we will have to proceed to trial”.
The case was adjourned until January 31, 2022 for mention.
