1 day Ago By Ado Oyeyemi
A 69-year-old woman, Roseline Uchenna, and her four children have been arraigned at the Family Law Centre in Abakaliki for allegedly demolishing the home of a widow, Maria Nwali. During Thursday’s hearing, the chairperson of the Centre, Elizabeth Nwali, ordered the immediate reconstruction of the damaged building and instructed that Maria be allowed to return to her late husband’s house. After hearing both parties, the chairperson found Roseline and her children—Samuel, Chinasa, Uzoamaka, and Chukwu Uchenna—responsible for unlawfully destroying the widow’s property.
She also summoned elders from their village to attend the next hearing, scheduled for May 7, to aid in resolving the dispute. Narrating her ordeal, Maria Nwali explained that she was married to the late Otta Nwali and had no children. She alleged that tensions arose after a disagreement between her relative, Chinyere, and Roseline, which escalated into violence.
She claimed she was attacked and forcibly evicted from her home. “Life became unbearable after our husbands passed away. Roseline and her children began to make things difficult for me,” she said.
“The dispute between Chinyere and Roseline led to a violent attack. My property, food items, and cash were destroyed.” Maria called on the Centre to ensure she is compensated for her losses.
In her defense, Roseline acknowledged her children’s involvement in the demolition but accused the widow of harboring a troublesome guest who disrupted peace in the compound. She claimed she had previously advised Maria to remove the person to avoid conflict. Chairperson Elizabeth Nwali also cautioned Maria for not addressing the disruptive behavior of her guest and emphasized the importance of involving community elders in resolving the matter.
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