The family of late Chief A.O Ezeoke of Nkpologwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor and the Catholic Church are at daggers drawn over late Ezeoke’s will.
As a result, the family has petitioned Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Anthonio Guido Filipezzi, over the matter.
The petition was signed by the first son of the family, Dr. Ezeoke Sylvester, on behalf of his other siblings and equally copied to their monarch and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
They are asking the Bishop and Rev Fr Dr. Chukwujekwu Obiora, who is the Catholic lawyer also, to hand over their father’s property and documents to them which were kept in their custody.
They further alleged that the Bishop and his agent, Rev Obiora, had been using thugs, assassins to threaten their lives, praying that they should stop using their positions in authority to trample on others.
Furthermore, they are contending that the Bishop and Obiora should leave their father’s companies, Almart and Company Ltd and Nkpologwu Aguata Commercial Ltd alone and to stop harassing their tenants and threatening them with police, among others.
Reacting yesterday on behalf of the Bishop, the church and himself, Rev Dr Chukwujekwu Obiora said they were not going to talk on the issue because it was in court.
“The Ezeoke’s will case is in court, adding that he would not talk on it.
“Go and tell them that the matter is in court, the people that addressed you are two out of the 11 children of late Chief Ezeoke, asked them where others are?”
But counsel to the Ezeoke family, Emeka Ugezu, said yesterday that there was no law that allows an executor who had not been granted probate to enter into the property of the will.
“If the executors have not been granted probate, they have no legal right to execute,” Ugezu said.