Josephine Ndubuisi-Kanu, one of the widows of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), a former military administrator of Lagos and Imo, on Tuesday asked an Ikeja High Court to recognise her children as heirs to the estate of their father.
Josephine also asked the court through her lawyer Ben Ediowere to have all its records reflect she was Kanu’s wife.
Responding, Justice Christopher Balogun asked if Josephine and her late husband were married under the Matrimonial Causes Act. Ediowere responded in the negative.
The judge said that the Act recognised only one wife.
Balogun, however, said that under the law, the children of the union would be entitled to the estate.
Also, Josephine’s counsel informed the court that Kanu’s other wife, Gladys, filed a suit in Abia 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 the deceased’s entitlements as a high-ranking officer.
Earlier, Balogun expressed surprise that Kanu’s family members were filing various applications through their counsel over the estate.
“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 the 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,” he said.
The judge adjourned the case until January 31 for mention.
Kanu died on January 13 at the age of 77. The court intervened in order for him to be buried following disputes by his widows.
