The children of Idongesit Nkanga, the former military administrator of Akwa Ibom State, have taken legal action to contest an eviction order obtained by their late father’s wife, Mosunsola Nkanga. The children, UtibeAbasi Idongesit Nkanga, Etietop Nkanga, Lance Okon Nkanga, and Ini Idara Nkanga, are seeking to set aside the warrant of possession obtained by their stepmother and regain access to their family home.
According to their lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the late Nkanga, who passed away from COVID-19 complications, had bequeathed his property in Abuja to his wife and children in his will. The property, located on Mary Slessor Close, Yakubu Gowon Way, Asokoro, was divided with one wing given to Mosunsola and the other to the children. However, the children are to eventually transfer the second wing to Mosunsola when their youngest sibling, Ini Idara, turns 30.
Mosunsola, who married Nkanga in 2007 following the dissolution of his previous marriage, took legal action in 2021 after her stepchildren allegedly denied her access to the property in Abuja. The court ruling on March 17, 2022, barred the children from interfering with Mosunsola’s right to live in the property until proper administration or probate had been obtained.
Following the court’s ruling, Mosunsola obtained a warrant for possession of the premises and eviction of the children. Effiong argues that the warrant used was illegal, as it was issued more than a year after its issuance date, exceeding the three-month validity period required by law.
Effiong further contends that the court ruling did not extinguish the children’s legal rights to the property or prevent them from occupying it. He also claims that the eviction violates the late Nkanga’s will, as Ini-Idara has yet to reach the age of 30 as stipulated.
In his application, Effiong requests the court to set aside the eviction order and award the children a sum of N1 million as compensation for the violation of their fundamental rights. Both Mosunsola Nkanga and her lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe, declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing court proceedings.
This legal confrontation between the children of the late A’Ibom military governor and their stepmother highlights the complexities that can arise after the death of a prominent figure. As the court case unfolds, the ultimate fate of the family home hangs in the balance, leaving the children waiting for justice to be served.
