An Ikeja High Court has ordered the Nigerian Navy to pay the entitlements of late former military governor of Lagos State, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) to a dedicated interest-yielding account.
Justice Christopher Balogun gave the order on Monday in Lagos, in an ongoing suit filed by one of the spouses of the deceased, Gladys Kanu, who sought that the Nigerian Navy should calculate the entitlements of the late Kanu and pay them.
In the suit marked LD/3685FPM/2021, she is also seeking to be declared as the sole widow of the former military administrator.
According to her, she and the deceased were cohabiting until his death.
Respondents in the suit are Nigerian Navy, children of the deceased.
Two other wives of the late naval chief, Josephine Ndubuisi-Kanu and Christine Kanu, are also respondents in the suit.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the Nigerian Navy, C. G. Cirbam, told the court that she filed an application before the court to remove the Nigerian Navy from the list of respondents since the burial of Kanu had been conducted.
Her submission was, however, opposed by the claimant’s counsel, O.Owoh, who informed the court that the Nigerian Navy could not be struck out from the list of respondents because it was still holding the entitlements of the deceased.
The judge granted an accelerated hearing in the suit.
The judge held that the deceased had three wives who bore children for him.
He said that according to the Administration of Estates Law of Lagos State, all the 10 offspring of Kanu were his legitimate children and were entitled to benefits from his estate.
Mr Kanu died in Lagos on January 13, 2021, at the age of 77 as a result of COVID-19 complications.
After his death, there was a family dispute about how the funeral should be conducted.
There is an ongoing dispute in his family regarding the administration of his estate.
The case was adjourned until February 7 for the continuation of hearing.
(NAN)
