Ex-Governor’s Children Clash With Stepmother In Court Over Property

The offspring and former spouse of late Idongesit Nkanga, former military governor of Akwa-Ibom State, have petitioned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, requesting assistance in repossessing their paternal home.

The four children—Utibeabasi, Etietop, Lance, and Ini-Idara Nkanga—along with their mother, Joanna, asked Judge O A. Musa to nullify an eviction order in favour of their stepmother, Mosun Nkanga.

The youngest child is 25 years old, according to their lawyer.

Nkanga’s widow, Mosun, evicted her step-children and their mother from the family residence in an upscale area of Abuja, based on a prior court order.

The kids, through their lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, appealed to the judge to invalidate this eviction.

“Currently, the children are without a home,” Mr Effiong stated.

According to Premium Times, he recounted an incident where one of the kids was filmed being chased out during the eviction by Ms Nkanga.

Ms Nkanga’s attorney, Marvin Omorogbe, disagreed with the children’s claims of homelessness, asserting they were vacationing in France at the time of the eviction. Omorogbe asked the court not to rush their application.

The judge acknowledged both parties’ arguments, affirming that the court could reconsider its decisions.

Despite the congestion of cases, he advised the children to find temporary accommodation until he returned from his vacation.

Mosun Nkanga initially sued her step-children in 2021 over their “refusal” to grant her access to the family home.

The court ruled that this violated her rights to the property. A review of Nkanga’s will shows that the family house was divided between his wife and children, with the children’s section to revert to Mosun when the youngest child turned 30.

Effiong stated that since Ini-Idara is only 25, Mosun shouldn’t have taken possession of the home, labelling her actions as a court process abuse. The suit has been adjourned until September 1 for a hearing.