By Echezona Okafor
NNEWI, ANAMBRA
A long-running inheritance dispute within the Ojukwu family of Mbanagu, Otolo in Nnewi has escalated into violence, following the killing of a key witness and rising allegations of intimidation, conflicting testimonies, and institutional lapses.
Mr. Joseph Nnadozie Ojukwu, a Kano-based businessman, has raised alarm over threats to his life after the fatal shooting of Mr. Aaron Ojukwu on February 8, 2026. The deceased was reportedly killed shortly after testifying in an ongoing court case over disputed family land.
Providing a deeply personal account, Joseph traced the roots of the crisis back to his youth. According to him, “My grandfather that gave Ani Obi the land on the 1st of September 2001 did so because I was assisting him with work at home, as I was in my 20s at the time.” He explained that tensions escalated shortly after he completed the German floor of his house, as family conflicts intensified, particularly involving his uncle and his uncle’s wife.
He alleged that persistent pressure from members of Ndiakwu Otolo forced his grandfather to cede additional adjacent land to Ndi Uruagu in a bid to maintain peace. “My grandfather succumbed and gave them the land so that peace would reign,” he said, attributing much of the crisis to what he described as “greed.”
Joseph further revealed that his late father had secretly written a will in 2006 without his knowledge. When confronted, his father reportedly acknowledged that while Joseph’s grandfather had given him land, similar gestures had been extended to others in the family.
The family structure was further complicated following the death of Emeka, the first son, during their father’s lifetime. Joseph maintains that this development made him the de facto first son. However, he alleges that his stepmother began actions he described as “provocative and unjust,” culminating in legal disputes that continued even as his father aged.
According to him, his father initiated proceedings at a customary court at the age of 92, but died before the matter reached the magistrate court. Determined to clarify succession rights, Joseph pursued legal action to establish who assumes leadership when a first son dies. He claims the court ruled in his favor.
He also recounted a near-fatal incident: “At a point, they wanted to use a knife to kill me in front of my father, and he started shouting. There is evidence of that.”
Following the eventual reading of the will, Joseph said it became evident that he received nothing, while significant assets were allegedly allocated to his stepmother. He also pointed out that the main family compound—now a focal point of the dispute—was not included in the will.
Despite this, he alleges that attempts are being made to evict him from the compound. “If I got nothing from the will, why are they chasing me from a place that was not even included?” he questioned, describing the situation as unjust persecution driven by greed.
He further disclosed that family elders (umunna) initially attempted to allocate portions of the estate to children of the deceased first son, but that decision was overturned at a panel convened by the traditional ruler, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III.
The crisis took a darker turn with the killing of Aaron Ojukwu, whom Joseph described as a crucial witness in his case. He alleges the killing was directly linked to the dispute, further heightening fears for his own safety.
Now seeking protection, Joseph has petitioned authorities for urgent intervention and a thorough investigation into the killing, as well as the broader pattern of alleged intimidation.
Stakeholders are also calling on Charles Chukwuma Soludo to step in and ensure justice, equity, and the restoration of peace in the community.
The unfolding situation has reignited national concern over violent inheritance disputes, the vulnerability of witnesses, and the fragility of both traditional and formal justice mechanisms in Nigeria.
For Joseph, however, the issue goes beyond land. “My anger is the wasting of innocent blood, and why i should be chased away from my father’s land, as when the first son dies, the second son takes over ” he said. “This is what greed has brought upon our family.”
He said that it's unfortunate that a greedy woman, who happens to be her step mother, Benedict Ojukwu is the one causing problems in the family.
He further stressed that the mother has given birth to children, male and female, even before the step mother came into the family. He is calling on the government to ensure that justice prevails in his matter to ensure that peace reigns because the land where he is was not on the will read and wondered why the stepmother wants him our of the compound as the first son of their father.