A 69-year-old woman, Roseline Uchenna, and her four children are facing trial at the Family Law Centre in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, for allegedly demolishing the home of a fellow widow, Maria Nwali.
At the proceedings on Thursday, Chairperson of the Centre, Elizabeth Nwali, ordered that the demolished house be rebuilt immediately.
After hearing from all parties involved, the chairperson held Uchenna and her four children: Samuel, Chinasa, Uzoamaka, and Chukwu Uchenna, responsible for taking the law into their own hands by orchestrating the demolition.
She also directed that Nwali, who had been ostracised, be reinstated to her matrimonial home.
In addition, the chairperson summoned the elders of the village to appear before the centre for a final resolution of the matter and adjourned the case until May 7.
Earlier, the victim, Nwali, told the centre that she was legally married to the late Otta Nwali, but was unable to bear children.
She said a minor misunderstanding between her relative, identified as Chinyere, and Uchenna escalated into a full-blown dispute involving Uchenna’s children.
According to Nwali, she was beaten and forcefully evicted from her home and sent back to her father’s village.
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She said: “My oppressors are the wife and children of my late husband’s younger brother.
“We had all been living in the same compound before our husbands passed away.
“I was away when a disagreement broke out between my namesake, who lives with me, and Roseline.
“Instead of resolving the matter wisely, Roseline called her children and, with the help of some village youths, they attacked me.
“Some of my belongings, including cash, containers of palm oil, tubers of yam, and other items, were taken.”
Nwali appealed to the centre to compel the accused to compensate her for the damages and losses incurred.
In her defence, Uchenna admitted that the house was demolished by her children but accused Nwali of harbouring someone who was not a member of the family and who had been causing problems.
She said she had previously advised Nwali to send the lady away to maintain peace in the household.
While addressing the matter, the chairperson also rebuked Nwali for her inability to control the said relative and reiterated her directive for the village elders to be present at the next hearing for a final resolution.
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