Abuja: A woman, Madam Grace Okpalanweze, has approached a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State seeking an order for her daughter-in-law, Uzoamaka, to vacate a two-bedroom flat in Mararaba.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okpalanweze told the court that she built the two-bedroom flat from proceeds of her business, which her late son, Ifeanyi, managed before his death in August 2022. She explained that Uzoamaka, who was married to her late son, had been living in the premises since his death. Okpalanweze stated that she accommodated the defendant after her son’s funeral to allow her to mourn and recover from the loss, without asking for rent during the four years she lived there.
Okpalanweze further told the court that she needed the house for her personal use as she no longer had a means of livelihood apart from the rent from other tenants. Despite repeated appeals, Uzoamaka had refused to vacate the premises. Additionally, Okpalanweze alleged that Uzoamaka had been managing a business owned by her late son without providing any financial accounts.
The court was informed that a seven-day notice to recover possession of the premises was served to Uzoamaka, but it had expired without compliance. Okpalanweze prayed the court to order the defendant to vacate the house, settle outstanding electricity bills, and return the prepaid electricity meter card before leaving. She also sought N500,000 as the cost of instituting the action, engaging counsel, and serving court processes on the defendant.
In response, Uzoamaka claimed that she and her late husband jointly built the house and was not aware that her mother-in-law owned the business in question. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Joy Faruk, adjourned the matter until September 28 for the continuation of the defense.