A United States of America-trained medical doctor, Dr (Mrs) Thelma Ezeonu, has called on men to will their property to their immediate family members while they are alive to save them from harassment, intimidation and ultimately losing the property to outsiders.
Ezeonu, the wife of Anambra-born philanthropist, Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, (Ikemba Nnobi), stated this in an interview with journalists in her country home in Ifite Ogbeadiji village, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Monday.
She explained that the sufferings and challenges many widows pass through in the hands of kinsmen, especially in the South-East were because their husbands failed to write their wills and get it documented while they are alive.
She lamented that the first action kinsmen or outsiders always take after the demise of a man who did not write his will is to sack his immediate family members, including the widow and her children from their late husband’s house and then take over his property, thereby rendering the victims homeless.
Citing an example of a recently publicized case of a widow from Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, who reportedly appealed to the Anambra State government to save her from the intimidation and frustration she is suffering from her late husband’s kinsmen, who denied her access to her late husband’s property, because of her refusal to engage in sexual affairs with some of them.
The victim had made the appeal when she appeared before the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare at the ministry’s headquarters in Awka, last Thursday.
The case, reportedly bordering on alleged tormenting, intimidation and forceful seizure of properties, was reported to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare by the widow herself.
Reacting to the incident, Ezeonu pointed out that there have been lots of women and children who have been subjected to inhumane treatment, stressing that these were made possible because the heads of their families did not expressly give their property to their immediate family members.
She said, “A will is a legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and/or properties and the care of any minor children after one’s death.
“Most times it is not easy to see women and children who were subjected to this harrowing experience of mourning their husbands and fathers, to at the same time be pursuing the recovery of the property taken forcefully from them by kinsmen or outsiders.
“When there is no will expressly stating that the wife or the man’s children are joint owners of the property, it makes them resort to legal action to recover the property taken from them and you know Nigerian courts, the case can last for almost or more than 10 years.
“Will helps women and their children. A lot of widows and children are suffering after the death of their husbands and fathers. For some, their husbands’ and parents’ property has been taken away from them by their relations, leaving the women and their children to suffer.
“But if men would will their property to their wives or children apart from having their names in the document of the property they would be adequately protected in case of death.”
She also said apart from having their wives and children’s names in the document of their property, such as the deed of assignment, deed of conveyance, irrevocable power of attorney, and deed of gift, women and their children should be adequately protected in case of the death of their husbands and fathers.
Earlier, Ezeonu had donated foodstuffs to some indigent women representing three-quarters of the community, during their Inyom Nnobi Annual Women Summit.
She was represented by the Mayor of Idemili South Local Government Area, Mrs Amaka Obi, who lauded the gesture and magnanimity of Ezeonu.
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