Man Battles Late Brother’s Wife Over Adopted Son, Properties

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The battle for supremacy over an inheritance has engulfed a family following the adoption of a male child in Umuchu town in Aguata Local government,  Anambra State.

The battle is between a widow simply known as Fidelia and her late husband’s brother, Cosmos on who will inherit the late John’s property in the family.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered the fight which started from the family to the police has gone up to the High Court in Anambra and yet seemed unabated.

It was gathered that the late John married Fidelia some years back and they had two daughters before he became sick and died three years ago.

Before then, John and Fidelia had started the process of adopting a male child before he died.

Fidelia completed the process thereafter and adopted the male child.

Meanwhile, Cosmos who was late John’s younger brother also married and had his own children both male and female and he is now the eldest in the family.

It was gathered that in Umuchu Community, when a man died without having a male child, the brother will inherit both his wife and the property as their customs and tradition demanded.

The female children have no right over the family property because it was expected that they will marry.

But Fidelia disagreed and claimed that her husband had children including the adopted son and therefore her late husband’s property belonged to them.

But Cosmos insisted that when his brother was alive, he had no male child as such he was the rightful person that will inherit the wife, his property and train the children he left behind according to their customs and tradition.

On the status of the adopted child, Cosmos claimed that he was not part of the family and he had no right to inherit anything in the family.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Cosmos attempt to take possession of the wife and property had caused serious friction between him and the widow to the extent the matter has become a subject of litigation.

It was gathered that the members of the family were divided on how to handle the perceived complex nature of the matter because of the adopted male child.

Some of the family members said that Cosmos was right because his late brother did not complete the process of adoption and did not introduce the adopted child to the family before he died.

Some said such culture and tradition was outdated and since the late John started the process of the adoption, though he did not complete it before he died that male child belonged to him.

The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Goddy Ezechukwu could not intervene and settle the matter before it was taken to court and it was not known how the rift will be finally settled.