₦airaland Forum

antontech: where is the venue of the debate?.

naptu2: Sir Louis Phillipe Odumegwu Ojukwu, KBE, (1909-1966)

www.nairaland.com/attachments/665662_sir20louis20Odumegwu20Ojukwu_jpga1a9a825590a3332a276a024eba34cc7

Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu was an extremely successful Nigerian businessman and politician from the Ojukwu family of Nwakanwa Quarters Obiuno Umudim Nnewi south east of Onitsha in modern Anambra State. One of the most illustrious citizens of Nigeria, he had remarkable success as a businessman and also rendered distinguished public service in several fields. He was also associated with several philanthropic and cultural organisations to which he made generous material and tacit contributions.

He was born in 1909 in Nnewi and attended a primary school in Asaba and the Hope Waddell Institute. After formal schooling he joined the Produce Inspection Service as produce examiner in 1928 and later worked as a clerk with the large West African trading company of John Holt. It was here that the self made man who later became one of Nigeria’s foremost business tycoons and a multi-millionaire developed his business interest. He incorporated a textile company in Onitsha to supplement his income during this period, already exhibiting a little bit of his entrepreneurial spirit. While at John Holt, he noticed the severe strain a lack of adequate transportation had on Eastern textile traders He resigned from John Holt in 1934 to start a transport business with one second-hand truck that later grew into a vast transport enterprise. As a transporter he was a tireless worker and meticulous to detail; he was usually the first to inspect his transport vehicles for oil and leakages. His transport company (Ojukwu"s Transport Company) was the first major transport company to move the easterners to Lagos from the Asaba end of the Niger river after they might have crossed over from Onitsha on a boat.

He entered politics in 1951 as a member of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) which included him in the delegation to the London Constitutional Conference in 1951. Four years later Odumegwu Ojukwu was elected to the Federal House of Representatives in Lagos, but resigned in 1956 to become chairman of the Eastern Region Development Corporation.

Apart from his work ethic, his success was also oiled by the economic boom after World War II, working with the West African Railway Company and the newly inaugurated produce boards, he provided his fleet for commodity transportation and for other traders use. During the 1950s, he diversified his interest, bought some industries and invested heavily in the real estate sector.

His success, drive and ability led him to a host of other business appointments as chairman of the Eastern Nigerian Marketing Board, chairman of the Nigerian Shipping Line, chairman of the Nigerian Cement Company, first and founding President of The Nigerian Stock Exchange and director of a number of business concerns including Shell-BP. He was also a member of the board of Nigerian Coal Corporation. His last public engagement was as chairman of the Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board. He resigned from this position and also from office as chairman of the African Continental Bank, in May 1966 as a result of ill health.

His own company, founded on the Ojukwu Transport Company in 1934, had at the time of his death in 1966 spread its activities into construction and other areas, growing into a multi-million-naira group and employing thousands of workers.

In 1953, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal; he was knighted in 1960. In 1963 the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Law, becoming the first to be so honoured by that university. He died on September 13th 1966 at Nkalagu in his home state, at the age of 57.

Ojukwu’s death came a few months after the first Nigerian civilian government was ended by a military coup d’etat which saw his son, Lieutenant-Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, ascend to office as Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria. Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu later declared the region, which he renamed Biafra, independent of the Federation of Nigeria, but secession was ended after a three-year bitter civil war in 1970.

mrjingles: I have a simple question...abeg mek una no vex but... why hold a debate on stv lagos for an election taking place in anambra? will it be broadcast to the state? They held one other debate in abuja, sorry but where are the voters for this election? I also heard Uba campaigned in the US....will anambra people resident in the US vote? While these people are doing "guy man" campaign PDP people will be talking to the real voters in the rural areas and suburbs in the state. I no understand o.

[size=14pt]Ojukwu’s Family multibillion naira assets cause ripples[/size]

By Ben Charlse Obi Jnr

The death of Christopher Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu drew tears, andsorrow to his adorable wife, Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Obviously, she loved him and he in turn was deeply in love with her. There was visibly construction of Bianca’s feeling towards Ojukwu in her ever-smiling pretty face.

INSIDER Weekly learned that when the exiled former Biafran leader wooed Bianca for a date in 1989 her demurring was not as intense as was expected of a dashing 22year-old’s reaction to the cupid nattering of a love-struck 55year-old.

Indeed, it was like a scene extracted from the popular television movie LOVE TRIUMPH”.One smug eveningas our ruby lady from Ngwo in Enugu state was astir contemplating her shores for that day, when an elegant 30 year old Mercedes Limousine screeched to a stop. The driver bounced out and walked gingerly towards her, a smug smile dancing on his face. Now Bianca was blushing as she stared at him. “Ikembi would like to see you at Villaska Lodge Ikoyi”. Surprise. “He said I should ask you to come with me now, he is waiting for you,” the driver added, the smile still dancing on his wily face.

The fairy tale romance had begun. The warlord was fulfilled that he had finally got his heart’s desire. Soon the story began to be whispered all over cosmopolitan Lagos, it then spread like an excitingfolklore across the country. Not a few Nigerians snarled at the poetic relationship between the beauty and the beast but Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a prisoner of paradise lust and irretrievably infatuated by his lover’s indescribable beauty. He had been caught by cupid. Bianca was not exactly enthralled by Ikemba’s warriorimage or family status. She comes from an aristocratic family herself. Her father, Chief Christian ChukwumaOnoh, Aninefengwu of Ngwo, was a former governor of Old Anambra state who had become a very wealthy before he assumed office. Onoh a legal luminary was said to have owned over one hundred houses in Enugu with several others in Abuja. Sources said that Bianca’s feelings for Ojukwu was really precipitated by the romantic and caring nature of Ojukwu. She was also enamoured of his intellectuality and immense contribution to the advancement of his Igbo people.

Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu loved beautiful women but to the quintessential king of the Igbos, his dames must also flaunt their egg brains and good manners to covet his affection. His first wife Njideka alia’s Deka Onyekwelu, a native of Nawfia in Anambra state was a pretty damsel. They consummated their love in Oxford, England. The Ikemba was so besotted by Deka that he approved that his father,Sir Louis Philip Odumegwu-Ojukwu, normalise their relationship by presenting the traditional keg of palm wine to the bride’s father, the late Chief C.T.O Onyekwelu in 1964. His second wife was Stella, the fair complexioned and attractive sister of Angela Onyeador. Stella’s marriage rite was sorted out on behalf of Ojukwu by a retired Army Major since he was still in exile at Coted Voire.

Circumstances eventually made Njideka and Stella to live in the same house in Coted’ Voirebefore Deka was forcedby her values and principles to return to the country.While Njideka gave birth to three children, two boys namely Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Junior; Nmeya (mimi) and Okigbo. Stella from Arochukwu in Abia state did not have a biological child of her own. And so, Emeka Ojukwu was elated to contract another marriage, his third experience to the woman he loved: the Queen of them all. Bianca won the most beautiful girl in Nigeria beauty pageant in 1988 while in her second year as law student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu Campus. She also won Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental Pageant. Ojukwu, according to sources, seduced Bianca with his charms, kindness and creativity.

The warlord was so beholden to Bianca that his friends and her own friends marvelled. It was as if she was the whole essence of his life. He wrote several romantic poems to her. Bianca could still be sleeping in the early morning during their courtship years only to be tenderly woken up so that she could have breakfast of tea and toast bread: who made the morning desert? Lover boy, Emeka Ojukwu of course. He sang love songs to her to enliven her especially when she was in sober mood. Ojukwu knew how to caress and sing a woman to sleep.” A long time Ojukwu family confidant said: “Ojukwu was not a self effacing lover, he did not put on airs before Bianca. Without being prompted, he went into the kitchen to prepare meals for her, sometimes he cooked her favourite meal to make her happy”.Bianca, sources said was swayed by Ojukwu’s tenderness and confessed to her relatives and friends that she had not seen a lover like Ikemba Nnewi.” He treats me like a special possession, it is like I mean the whole world to him” she was quoted as saying even as she admitted that “I am not as romantic as he is”.

Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu married the then 27year old Bianca on November 12, 1994 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She was born in 1968 when Ojukwu was commander in Chief of Biafran Armed Forces. The love birds waited for five curious years to get married allegedly because of the nation-wide controversy spurned by their blown secret affair and Chief Christian Onoh, the bride’ father’s refusal to give his blessing to the solemnisation of their marriage. “How can my daughter marry a man old enough to be her grandfather”? Onoh was said to have queried. Bianca’s elder sibblings were all in support of the union between their young sister and her elderly lover.

Eventually their old man grudgingly agreed to their marriage, and expressed that grudge by not being the person who handed Bianca over to Ojukwu as tradition demands. That responsibility fell on Gabriel Onoh. And the deed was done.Chief Onoh gave his favourite daughter an imposing house as wedding gift for them to live happily ever after.

The burden of being Ojukwu’s wife was complex yet a simple responsibility. From the onset the two bonded easily. The wife obviously knew her husbands like and dislikes. She knew he loved honestly.Trustworthiness and intelligence were values Ojukwu cherished. Bianca also knew that her husband loved beautiful women. Could she had tamed him to look only her own way?

INSIDER Weekly learned that at the early stage of her marriage Bianca found it a little complicating being in harmony with Ojukwu’s other children. Njideka dotted on her children-Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Junior, Mimi (Nmeya) who is based in the United States and Okigbo who lives in United Kingdom and always enquired about their welfare. Stella had Ebele who returned from Britain to look after Ikemba in Enugu during the early days of his serial ailment. Bianca herself gave birth to a set of twins, Afamefuna, Chidubem and Nwachukwu, her youngest child.

Emeka Ojukwu was a dotting father. He loved his children very much almost to the level of adoration. He ensured that they received quality education, and everything they needed to enjoy reasonable comfort. But he was said not to have compromised discipline. Emeka Ojukwu had it all made from birth. His father, Sir Louis Philip Odumegwu – Ojukwu was the wealthiest person in Nigeria during his life time. Ojukwu’s multi-million cash and assets inheritance could have enticed him to shun any occupation and live all his life in opulence.

Sir Louis as Emeka Ojukwu’s father was fondly called by associates, was born in 1909. He died in 1966 at the age of 57years. He was a Civil Servant who later ventured into business. He began his civil service career in the federal ministry of Agriculture. He later joined John Holt as a sales clerk. He planned for a secured future by incorporating a texile company in Onitsha. While still in the service of John Holt, he observed that Eastern textile traders did not have adequate transportation for their goods. He quickly lashed on that opportunity and veered into transportation business.He registered Ojukwu Transport Limited. The economic boom of the second world war created the need for Sir Louis to expand his business tentacles. He became the major transporter for the Railways and the newly established Produce Board.

As he became more successful in his business undertakings, he began to invest in the establishment of other profitable businesses. He invested in real estate and bought some high profile industries. He acquired shares and became a director in numerous Corporations. He was a board member of Shell Oil, D’Archy, African Continental Bank, Nigeria Coal Corporation, and United African Company, UAC. He was the pioneer president of Nigeria Stock Exchange. Sir Louis, who was educated in Asaba and Hope Wadell Training Institute, Calabar, had become the wealthiest man in Nigeria by the time he died. He left behind innumerable assets that today have become a source of strife among his offsprings. Hisassets running into billions of naira include the magnificent Nnewi building in Apapa, Lagos, the former Joint Admission Matriculation BoardHeadquarters, Ikoyi,and other properties located in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Mushin, Oshodi – Apapa Express Way, Lagos. He owned properties in Enugu, Aba and PortHarcourt.Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu extended family is today in fierce battle to determine the correct status of his off springs and mode of sharing their father and grand father’s assets.

Sir Louis, the patriarch of Ojukwu family gave birth to Professor Joseph Ojukwu, a consultant Surgeon at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State; Emmanuel, an Engineer; Lotanna and Udegbe. These sons had severally laid claim to an inheritance in the multi-million naira estate as children of the late Louis Philip Odumegwu – Ojukwu. Some of the claimants are said to have been born before Chukwuemeka Odumegwu – Ojukwu who arrived in 1933. The eldest child of Sir Louis is said to be Professor Joseph Odumegwu – Ojukwu. Their other half-brother, Tom Bigger, whose mother was a Briton died during the Civil war alongside the poet, Christopher Okigbo,and Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu at Opi junction near Nsukka.In his lifetime, the former Head of State of defunct Biafra allegedly disclosed during a squabble with his half brothers that he is the bonafide inheritor of their father’s estate because their own mother was allegedly not traditionally or legally married to Sir Louis. He was said to have broken the proverbial coconut from Nsugbe (Anambra State) when out of intense anger he was said to have reminded them that “they are children of his father’s concubines”.

Joseph and his brothers had controversially gone to court asking the court to declare their status and to meanwhile restrain Emeka Ojukwu from the estate of Louis Odumegwu - Ojukwu. But in a dramatic twist, Sylvester Debe, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Junior and Okigbo had dragged Ojukwu Transport, their father Chukwuemeka Odumegwu – Ojukwu, Professor Joseph, Emmanuel, Lotanna and Massey Udegbe to court over the same estate of Sir Louis Odumegwu – Ojukwu. They claim that they are the rightful inheritors of their grandfathers estate being the direct children of Emeka Odumegwu – Ojukwu whose mother was the only legal wife, and according to the will of Sir Louis envisaged this Crisis during his life time and in order to cushion it, decided to make his grand children the major beneficiaries of his assets. The old man recognised Prof Joseph and others as his biological children but the only woman he married according to tradition and law was Emeka Ojukwu’s mother. It seems Emeka Ojukwu too is a chip of the old block.He fathered some of his own children outside wedlock, Sylvester Debe’s mother is a woman from Udi, Enugu state. Stella’s daughter, Ebele is an adopted child. There is another son by a buxomlywoman from Oji River in Enugu state.

Emeka Ojukwu did not deny that he was severally “involved” during his life time. He admitted when he was challenged: “I love beautiful women”.
Unlike their father the Ojukwu offsprings are yoked together as children of one man. They are not derided by their matrilineal pedigree.

The federal military government confiscated all properties belonging to Sir Louis Odumegwu – Ojukwu during the Civil War. Ojukwu’s contention is that his half brothers did not do much to retrieve those properties until he returned from 12 years exile in Coted’ Voire and started pressing for the properties to be released. Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, was said to have released the properties to him.

However in what appears to be the climax of the situation comedy (sitcom), the Late Emeka Odumegwu - Ojukwu it seemed, took his own vengeance against his children by allegedly giving a substantial part of his own wealth – cash and properties to his beloved wife Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu – Ojukwu. His children including Bianca’s offspring’s were said to have benefited an infinitesimal part of the inheritance.

The magazine learned that in Ojukwu’s first will written about twenty years ago, he divided his estate between Bianca and his children almost on equal basis. He allegedly upgraded his will about ten years later before the third and final testament which he allegedly did not long before he died. “He did not entirely leave out Sylvester, Emeka Junior, their brothers, and Bianca’s own children, but he gave a good percentage of cash and properties to Bianca” an informed source said. Emeka Ojukwu’s own property include: the multi million estate in Coted’ Voire;CasaBianca lodge, a sprawling building in Enugu whose name CasaBianca was coined from Casablanca in Morocco. Bianca allegedly inherited other high brow properties like Villaska lodge, 29 Oyekan Abayomi (Queens Drive) Ikoyi, Lagos; Multi million property in other parts of Enugu and stocks worth several millions of naira. The Romeo was also alleged to have bequeathed most of his classy vehicles like Limousine Mercedes,Cherokee jeeps to his ravishing Juliet. However, Sir Louis Ojukwu’s Patriarchal House in Umudim Nnewi, his personal house and the houses in his late father’s compound were said to have been willed to his eldest son.

The magazine’s competent sources further revealed that Ojukwu’s finances lodged in the banks now belong to his widow,Bianca. “I think they had joint account in one of the banks, that’s what a relative of theirs told me, but I am yet to confirm it. However, I am certain that Ojukwu willed a large sum of money in the bank to Bianca, the money which will be running into billions of naira includes dividends, from Louis Philip Ojukwu’s shares in shell, insurance companies and tenement fees from multiple estates that had been paid into Emeka Ojukwu’s account before the suit filed by his half brothers and later his children.

Meanwhile, Ojukwu’s will will be formally read to the family after his burial on February 2, 2012. The traditional one month mourning period is expected to be observed. But snippets of what the will contains, it appears, was let out by two of Ojukwu’s associates whom the late king of Igbos made to witness his wishes. The issue of inheritance, sources said,the controversial will is currently causing brouhaha in the immediate and extended Ojukwu family.

The oldest man in Ojukwu Okigbo larger family, Chief Chijioke, was said to have intervened at a point as he pleaded with everybody to wait until Emeka Ojukwu is buried. Then the family will now sit down to sort out the issue of entitlement.

Meanwhile members of the committee for Emeka Ojukwu’s burial will soon be announced with the arrival last week of Bianca from London.
The magazine learned that Governor Peter Obihad concluded discussion with Ojukwu’s family, South-East governors and their South-South (those in the old East Central State) counterparts on Ojukwu’s burial details.

The Presidency, according to sources will play a part in the funeral as it was said that it was President Jonathan who chose the February 2, 2011 date.

The fend over Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu’swill is threatening to tear the great family apart. Who will quench the fire this time?

[size=14pt]BATTLE FOR OJUKWU’S WILL RAGES: Question marks surround Bianca’s inheritance – Ike Ojukwu[/size]

on January 20, 2013 at 12:03 am

Says ex-Biafran leader disowned Debe during his life time.

BY TONY EDIKE

Dr. Patrick Ike Ojukwu, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, is a director of Ojukwu Transport Limited, a company founded by Sir, Louis Philip Odumegwu-Ojukwu to manage his numerous business interests before his demise in 1966 and a nephew of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Dr. Ojukwu,  in this interview, speaks on the controversy surrounding the Will/Codicil  of the former Biafran leader, which  is tearing the family apart. He believes that the Will read couldn’t have been written by the Ikemba Nnewi while joining issues with Sylvester Ojukwu (a.k.a. Debe Ojukwu) who claims to be the former Biafran leader’s son.
Excerpts:

You must have read the Will and Codicil  of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, which have been disputed by some of his children, especially Emeka Ojukwu  Jnr and Sylvester Ojukwu. What is your take on this?


Let me start by addressing mainly the issue related to Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, as a  director and shareholder. My comments are based on the assumption that what I have read in the papers and internet are the same as that read at Probate Registry. In my view, the late Ikemba Nnewi had every right to write his Will the way he pleased. His dependants/children/beneficiaries have every right to satisfy themselves that he wrote what he wanted without duress, of sound mind and that the signatures are his and that he knew what he was signing.

Sylvester Ude (a.k.a Dibe Ojukwu) was never, to my knowledge, acknowledged by the late Ikemba as his son. Sylvester, I am certain, did not expect to be mentioned in Ikemba’s Will – valid or forged.  He should refund company money in his possession  whilst he can.

What is your view on the Will as it relates to the Ojukwu Transport Company and the entire family?

Emeka Ojukwu Jnr. is not mentioned as executor of the Will, contrary to earlier reports and it is very surprising, neither is any other child of Ikemba. Ojukwu saying in the purported Will that Bianca “shall take over my seat on the Board of OTL” is unbelievable because the Ikemba, whilst alive, even when ill, never sent Bianca as proxy or alternate to OTL Board meetings; he only requested her presence to assist in reading documents that required his signature due to his poor eyesight. The Ikemba’s acceptance letter to Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Abuja as OTL director is dated 29 June 2010 after the said Will and Codicil were supposedly written. A late director/shareholder may name or recommend who will represent his shares. The Board of Directors and it alone, when certain laid down requirements are met, decides who to appoint director. In the past, directors, prior to appointment, were required to render account of all properties they occupied/managed.The Board,obviously, will have to be satisfied that any Will presented is authentic and all challenges addressed.

Ojukwu directing that Bianca  “shall retain my interest at 29 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos”, a  company property, unoccupied and neglected for over 12 years and costing the company over N240 million in lost rent, is currently  a court issue. Interest will have to be explained.  Again, it is difficult to believe that the late Ikemba would spell hectare as ‘hecter’ in the Will with his mastery of spoken and written English, French, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.

[size=13pt]Peace enduring sharing arrangement[/size]

My late grandfather went by the name Louis Philip [LP] Ojukwu till he was knighted, then he elected to use his Igbo name Odumegwu. None of his children address or addressed him as Sir LP Ojukwu as shown in the Will, it is Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Also the Ikemba would not describe Nnewi Building as Nnewi ‘House’.  He also did not call his brothers ‘half brothers’.  It is a well known fact that Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, in his Will read in 1966, clearly stated that he did not want company landed property/houses sold.  It is strange, to put it mildly, that the Ikemba would not bring up the ‘peace enduring sharing arrangement’ of company/family property with his brothers/cousins/directors at the quarterly board meetings, even though many of the meetings were held at his residence whilst alive.

Who are the ‘three sons of the late Sir L.P.Ojukwu’?  No mention of his cousin and director, Engr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, to whom he had written a letter in the past making very clear his (Ikemba’s) view on women as executors of estates. The late Ikemba, aware of his shareholding in OTL, is very unlikely to use the words ‘direct’ and ‘demand’ in requests to the Board especially in a Will/Codicil.  These issues and more I shall bring up at the OTL Board meeting having, earlier in the year, nominated Emeka Jnr and one of Bianca’s sons to the Board.

It will be most unfortunate if the Ikemba’s wishes have been distorted. The Will/Codicil I read tarnishes, insults and diminishes him – portraying him as some ‘woman wrapper’, unaware of Nnewi custom, willing out his mother’s interest in this property and father’s/company’s interest in that property in his seventies; nothing mentioned to charity or Biafran/veteran causes for a man who loved the people, in English that does not come close to his prowess.  He is also depicted as cowardly and unable to raise issues with his brothers/directors in person whilst alive, a whole general of the peoples’ army!

[size=13pt]Absolute insult[/size]

The so-called lawyer said to be responsible for the so-called ‘codicil’ was quoted in one of the papers as saying that the Ikemba’s house at Nnewi was built with proceeds from  toll booths the Ikemba was managing for the late Gen. Sani Abacha is an absolute insult to Dim, Igbos and Biafra. Can he prove that the houses in Enugu and Nnewi were not built with OTL company property rent money?  If Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, who made the money himself, had, in his own  Will, put his 4th wife on the OTL Board in 1966 and given wives the same and not made any child an executor of his will, there probably would not be anything left for his sons to will out.   The two surviving wives of Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu are the real victim-widows subsisting on allowances of less than N100,000 a month (combined),whilst one of his late son’s wives in addition to allegedly getting N10 million a month  from the party and government in Anambra wants to retain family/company property (case in court), realizing a  rent of at least N25 million a month, money that should go to the memorial hospital Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu promised to build at Nnewi for the masses, in addition to an  ambassador’s salary – one individual!

Washing ‘dirty’ linen in public is unavoidable sometimes.  Justice shall be done.  Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu’s money was earned the hard honest way and it will be a fight to the finish to preserve his wishes and assets.

Those that describe graduate former commissioners/advisers or one who has studied medicine, specialised and  worked for over 30 years as lazy because they fight for their rights are dishonest.

Sylvester, who claims to be Ojukwu’s legitimate first son, has  raised an issue with the Ojukwu family that he was denied his birthrights. Why is the family not willing to accept Sylvester as one of their own?


Because he is not. The late Ikemba was never married to his mother and never acknowledged him to anyone as his child.  He told his people that Emeka Jnr. was his first son (Diokpala) and denied that Sylvester was his child. Ikemba drafted a letter disowning Sylvester and admonished the Obi that awarded Sylvester a chieftaincy title – all these whilst alive.

My uncle the engineer, who played a major role in trying to bring the man into the family (against Ikemba’s wish), in whose boy’s quarter Sylvester used to stay in the 70s, who practically gave him the job to manage company property from 1995 to 2007 and to keep 30%, after Sylvester left  the Police Force, now describes his support for Sylvester as  a huge error. Sylvester to date has not rendered account of any kobo belonging to the company.  He built some unauthorized batchers behind Nnewi Building and then turned around to say the company owes him N1.8 billion. The case is in court.  The people in Nnewi are furious and impatient.

But how come Ojukwu accepted Tenni (Aisha) who came the same way and rejected Sylvester?
Family and friends knew about this daughter.

Ikemba accepted her as his and was not ashamed of her, her mother or their relationship. In Nigeria, it was his right to accept who he pleased regardless of resemblance, DNA or cheap popularity in Nnewi organizations or media.

It is not by force. Why did you not see Sylvester granting interview when Ikemba was alive?  Im no dey fear?  I hope there is no bias against Ikemba or Igbos in the media.  Can you imagine a grown chap showing up at Gen. Obasanjo, Danjuma or Babangida’s doorsteps and declares he/she is their  child, resembles them and orders them to go for DNA, in Nigeria?

This is not America. Okay you resemble him – so does the  late Jonas Savimbi and his in-law, Prof Ukwu.  Of course you can decide first child if you can’t negotiate it. Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu knew his children, accepted them without classification; so did the Ikemba. Sylvester  is obsessed with ‘natural’ son here, ‘from the loin son’ there. I have said it before, chemical, biological, physical, geographical, gbanjo, away-match, guzo – were son is nonsense.  Ikemba said he (Sylvester) was not his son, and if Sylvester really wants the beans spilled on Ojukwu family and legitimacy, he is going to further tarnish those he claims to be his parents. All Ikemba’s brothers mothers were properly married by Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu.

I really feel for him, it is pathetic to watch a 56-year old grandfather gossiping about young women fighting in kitchen and lying and disgracing himself.  He should have settled with Ikemba when he was alive. Very sad because when we were in secondary school (he was a year my junior, I believe his nickname then was ‘Yankee Doodle’), he was a humble, hardworking easy-going guy and we had no problems – it must be the trauma of rejection/denial by alleged parent and realization that he left it too late.

What qualifies one to become a director of Ojukwu Transport Company?

To become a director in OTL, I believe you have to possess a certain number of shares, no conviction/indictment for criminal act – the Board then votes to appoint.

There are a number of cases in court between OTL and Sylvester who owes (allegedly) the company  billions unaccounted money. He must  account for the money.

How do leaders of Ojukwu family feel over the disagreements since Ikemba’s demise?


Members of the family, Nnewi and Igbos generally don’t like washing linen in public. When alive, Ikemba was involved in many lawsuits with his brothers/directors of OTL; we did not publicise it  and he was not the most righteous in those cases, but some now glibly  interpret  the civil way those were handled  as ‘they were afraid of Ikemba’ when he was alive – a lie.  He returned from exile in 1982, OTL properties were released in 1993, he accepted his appointment as OTL director in  2010.  In a lawsuit filed in 1998  or thereabouts, Mr. Lotanna Ojukwu claimed that Ikemba collected N12 million arrears of rent on OTL properties (1967-1993) for himself, compensation from Lagos State Government/Knight Frank and Rutley.   Knowledge is power, information is invaluable. I believe sometimes washing linen in public is unavoidable if not outright good.  I have said it before that there is no ‘war’ in the family – some people wish to claim what is not theirs and they shall not succeed by the grace of God. In Nnewi, we like to say ‘o nwero ife anya fulu gbaa nmee’.

A lot has been written in the media about the status of Sylvester in the family and some believe he is not fairly treated. Is the family comfortable with this?

If I were Emeka Jnr. I would sue any media organization or person that describes Sylvester as Ikemba’s first son.  I had in the past posed 20 serious questions that the media should ask Sylvester. Okay  he resembles Ikemba, so what? Many do, na resemble we go chop? This is a  valid question Sylvester should answer:  He should show his birth certificate;  he says his poor teacher-mother raised him, when did he reconcile with Ikemba?; let him show any picture of him and his parents growing up; show any letter Ikemba wrote addressing him as ‘son’ or signing as ‘father/dad.  Alhaji Mohammed Gambo was Inspector General of Police when Sylvester was forced to leave the police. What was his last transfer?, why?, did he go? if not why not?; whilst in the police, was he investigated for any crime/fraud? , results?;  you people call him a  billionaire – how much has he made from his law practice?  He says Ikemba willed out property his grandmother gave him, what did he (Sylvester) do in the over 20 years after the death of his granny when Ikemba was alive?

Ikemba did not marry his mother, accept, acknowledge or present him to the family as his son.  He denied that Sylvester was his child.  Is it by force?  Even grandmas cannot single-handedly confer legitimacy.  Name one person who can say that Ikemba said to them that Sylvester was his child.  There are many that he told that Sylvester was not his child.

stillwater: Where can we watch it online? I've been waiting for this.

dfav: Hope its not STV lagos. .. cos their people who will really vote 4 them re in d SE...

Abi dem one rig d election

naptu2: One of his two goals against South Africa in October 1992. He received an impossibly high pass, controlled the ball in the air and blasted it into the goal.


Nations cup 1994 when he received a long pass from Oliseh, lobbed the keeper and headed the ball into the net.

naptu2: Nigeria 7 - Burkina Faso 1

Yekini made an off the pitch contribution to Nigeria's success in that game. Just as the match was about to start, it was discovered that an NFA official forgot the Eagle's shorts @ their camp in Ota. The NFA were in a fix. They didn't know what to do. CAF refused to delay the game and if the Eagles didn't file out it would mean that the game would be forfeited.

Yekini suggested that they should cut the tracksuit trousers with razor blade and use that to play the game. The Eagles played the first half wearing the improvised "knickerbockers" while the official rushed to Ota to get ythe shorts, which the Eagles used in the 2nd half.

naptu2: This was a save, but it's one that I'll never forget.

African Champions Cup (forerunner of African Champions League) 1988. Africa Sports of Ivory Coast vs Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Nigeria.

Thunderous shot from Yekini (of Africa Sports). No other African keeper would have made the save. But Iwuanyanwu's keeper was Edward Ansah (Ghana's first choice and one of the best African keepers ever). He made the save, but the shot was so hot that he spent the next 5 to 10 minutes flat on the ground.

cloud7: MAY THE SOUL OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED REST IN PEACE,FUNKY MALLAM AS MEDIA-MEN USED TO CALL HIM WAY BACK WAS THE BRAIN BEHIND THE SUCCESSFUL HOSTING OF THE FIRST NIGERIAN MUSIC AWARD,DURING HIS TIME AS PMAN PRESIDENT,HE RAISED THE BAR OF THE ASSOCIATION. R.I.P

biafranqueen: do you know how much US government paid Dick Cheney company Haliburton for 1 case of mineral $45.00 NGN 7,000 $100.00 per meal. That is the wickedness all over the world in government contracts I hope when given the chance citizens like yourself will do better.

biafranqueen: don't get me wrong being from Nnewi the stories about Cosmas is no different then Ifeanyi you attract who you are but based on the price quote he probable only made 40-50 million out of the 200 million that is a reasonable profit don't you think ?

The X-Squad was set up in 1966 to investigate officers involved in bribery and corruption, based on complaints from the public, but police officers and civil society leaders say it simply engages in the same corrupt practices it was designed to investigate, extorting money from junior police officers who are accused of abuses.

tony gee: No be today musicians dey wear pants on stage timaya have done dat b4

Ishilove: Burna boy seems to be very well endowed...