By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, has waded into a case of alleged frustration of a widow by her husband’s kinsmen in the State, over her refusal to engage in some sexual affairs with them.
The case, bordering on alleged tormenting and seizure of the widow’s late husband’s property in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of the State, was reported to the Ministry, Awka, by the widow herself, Mrs. Chikaodili Okeke.
According to her (in video interviews where she recounted what happened), the late husband, Mr. Christopher Okeke, who became critically sick while in Sierra Leone, was brought down to Nigeria for treatment; and during the course of his treatment, some of his kinsmen began to interlope and interfere in his in healthcare.
She explained that the people started by inviting her to their kinsmen meeting, where she was accused by them for not informing them officially that her husband was sick, and after which they banned her from everything concerning her husband’s healthcare (including restricting her from visiting or attending to him in the hospital where he was receiving treatment), claiming that the doctor informed them that the sickness usually got worse each time she visited the husband in the hospital.
Continuing, she said, thereafter, the people and her husband’s sister bribed and connived with the doctor treating him, and snuggled him out of the hospital to an unknown destination. She, however, explained that police from the Zone 13 Ukpo intervened after she reported the matter to them, and also made some arrests, including the doctor, who then confessed that the people bribed him with N100,000 to lie that the husband’s health condition was being worsened by the wife’s presence.
The widow, who recounted how her husband eventually died in sickbed, further noted that after his demise, the people began to torment and frustrate her even the more, making conditions worse for her and her children.
Mrs. Okeke said, apart from the fact that the people did not contribute a dime to her husband’s burial, they and her husband’s sister also denied her access to most of her husband’s property, including houses and shops where he has tenants, to the point that feeding and paying her children’s school fees became very difficult for her. She added that her husband’s sister; as well as one Mr. Okorocha and Mr. Ezenwankwo, are among the backbones of her ordeal, stirring up others in championing and facilitating her frustration.
She explained that the people went to the extent of bringing back the ex-wife of her husband’s father who was divorced many years ago and who bore no child before leaving, inviting her over to come and take over and occupy majority of the property of her husband, Christopher Okeke — all to make life more difficult for her and her children.
Continuing, the widow said when she approached one of the husband’s kinsmen, Mr. Okorocha, and asked him why they’re frustrating and making life more difficult for her and her children, he reminded her of his earlier request from her to allow him sụck her breast, and which she refused to do, adding that allowing him sụck her breast is the only solution to all her problem. She said some other kinsmen she approached and asked the same question, also reminded her of their earlier request from her to allow them have sexual affairs with her, which she also turned down.
She further revealed that the people equally vowed to her hearing that she can only have rest if she grants their individual requests. According to her, while she declined to grant their requests, the frustration continued, which necessitated the involvement of the state government for intervention.
Mrs. Okeke’s narrative was corroborated by some villagers who also bore witness to the stories and and also recounted their individual efforts to intervene, which also proved unsuccessful.
Responding, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo condemned the acts as pure wickedness and ill-conceived, as well as contradictory to the Igbo cultural values and against what Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration stands for.
The Commissioner, who was visibly angry over the report, also assured that the state government must get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice is served, while the culprits face the full weight of the law.
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