As the remains of late American trained Organic Chemist, a revered community and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha continued to lie cold in the morgue, a younger sister to the deceased, Ann Nwaonicha has accused his ex-wife, Francesca Ifenyinwa Iwunze, Vincent Arimokwu and Sunday Nwaonicha of instigating controversial court issues which have hindered the burial plans of her late elder brother..
The American based Ann who spoke in an online interview with newsmen during the week, frowned at the behaviours of the aforementioned persons who according to her have frustrated efforts to bury Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha since his sudden demise more than two years ago.
She said, “My late elder brother, Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha, was a caring and loving man who supported his family members very well in many areas. He was a good brother, a good father to his children, and a good friend to many both in Nigeria and in the United States of America.
“We received the sad news of his sudden death with a great shock because he was not sick. After his death, I took it upon myself to organize his children in the United States of America in order for us to give him a befitting burial. His ex-wife and mother to one of his children, last son, Francesca Ifenyinwa Iwunze, was carried along in the burial plans. She continued avoiding phone calls and did not care. I came to Nigeria with my late brother’s eldest child and son, Ostin, and with the involvement of other family members, we made all necessary arrangements for the burial. It was at the point of burying him that we were stopped by a High Court in Asaba after a suit was instituted against us by Francesca Ifenyinwa Iwunze and her son, Dada Christopher Nwaonicha. She was encouraged to go to court by Vincent Arimokwu and Sunday Nwaonicha.
Unfortunately, we have been in court since the case was instituted in 2023, and none of these family members have shown interest in getting our brother and father buried. Instead, they continued to spread lies and work against every move towards plans for the burial of Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha. I have tried severally to make them see reasons why we should bury Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha as he will not continue to be in the mortuary, but none of them is ready to listen to me. It’s really shameful and unbelievable that a man who has served his family, community, and government genuinely will be humiliated to this extent after his death.
While stating that she is not going to get tired in her efforts to get her late elder brother buried, Ann Nwaonicha appealed to concerned Agbor people, including politicians of Ika extraction to join her in the move to bury Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha as his continued stay in the mortuary is very bad and unacceptable.
She added, “As Vincent Arimokwu continues to come to court to support Francesca Iwunze, his brother is crying out in the Montgomery jail to leave him alone to be buried.
“Vincent Arimokwu is money hungry. His goal is to steal his brother, Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha s land even though he is owed nothing. No matter how much help he receives all the way to his daughter receiving money from Ann Nwaonicha to start a business, he remains ungrateful and looks for more.
“Ann Nwaonicha even paid money for a borehole to be dug at his house so that he and his family could drink water. Yet, this was not enough, and he wanted more.
“Ann Nwaonicha has spent over $30,000 U.S dollars on expenses related to the burial of Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha. At this point, it feels like there is no end in site. My late brother’s ex-wife, Francesca Iwunze and her son, Dada Christopher Nwaonicha, Vincent Arimokwu and Sunday Nwaonicha are owing me”.
“God will judge anyone against the burial of Dr Chukwuma Nwaonicha because he does not deserve to be treated this way.
