By UCHENNA UGWU

The Family Law Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, has issued an order restraining the family of late Mr. Okorie Nwachukwu from alleged attacks on his third wife, Blessing, over property dispute.

The Chairperson of the centre, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwali, gave the order on Friday during a hearing on an alleged land dispute at Amikeaba in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State.

She cautioned the first and second wives, Ngozi and Nkechi, as well as other members of the family, against further abusing Blessing pending the outcome of their case in the center.

Nwali said that the action was to allow investigations and to resolve the matter that had resulted to assault, threat to life and sale of ‘Ozor ulo’ (portion of a house from their husband).

Earlier, Blessing in a local dialect, told the centre that she was the third wife to the deceased and was legally married with three children.

She alleged that a portion of land given to her by her late husband was taken away, with part of the land sold off.

“Others were used for farming by Onyebuchi Nwachukwu, first son to the deceased and his wife,” she said.

According to Blessing, she was beaten, thrown stones at, and threatened by her co wives and their children especially Onyebuchi.

“My co- wives and their children are my oppressors.

“Whenever I ask Onyebuchi concerning the property, he slaps and threatens to kill me.

“They seized the 14 rooms-home of my late husband, collected rent and shared the money among the two wives without including me,” Blessing added.

She appealed to the centre to compel the accused to treat her of injuries incurred from their maltreatment.

She also said that the accused must sign an undertaking and share her late husband’s property to include 14 rooms, empty land among others.

The third wife also urged the centre to caution them not to sell her ozoulo’ portion of land.

In his defence, Mr. Onyebuchi Nwachukwu, the accused and first son to the deceased, claimed that he never maltreated her as alleged.

On his part, Mr. Silas Nwachukwu, younger brother to the deceased, explained how the 14-rooms apartment was shared among the three wives of his late brother.

According to him, the first wife got three rooms; the second wife with three sons got four rooms; while Blessing, the third wife got three rooms as well.

Nwachukwu added that N200, 000 and a flat each was handed over to the three women.

He said that another 40 inches of land at the backyard of her three-rooms’ apartment was given to her. “Verify all these,” he said.

While addressing the matter, the chairperson warned the respondents to stop any form of violence against the woman.

She said that the centre would visit the family before the next hearing for final resolution. (NAN)