A Widow’s Fight for Justice: The Heartbreaking Story of Mrs. Onyinye Nweke

By Almanah Hope Foundation

In Asaba, Delta State, a widow named Mrs. Onyinye Nweke faces a heartbreaking and unjust struggle following the tragic death of her husband, Ifeanyi Nweke, in July 2023. Her story is a harrowing reminder of the challenges widows endure in their pursuit of justice and the protection of their rights.

A Tragic Loss and the Aftermath

Mrs. Onyinye married her husband, Ifeanyi, traditionally and statutorily in 2009, building a family with three young children. Her world was turned upside down when her husband passed away due to injuries from an accident. However, her grief was compounded by shocking actions taken by her in-laws.

While her husband was still receiving treatment in the hospital, his family removed him without her consent, hiding him and barring her and their children from seeing him until his death; an action that remains suspicious.

After his passing, the challenges escalated. Mrs. Onyinye and her children were evicted from their home by her husband’s family, leaving them to rely on the kindness of friends. The displacement forced the children to miss a term of school, affecting their emotional and academic well-being.

A Brazen Theft of Assets

Shortly after her husband’s death, her brother-in-law took advantage of the situation and occupied her husband's businesses, with some actions that required investigation.

He fraudulently altered corporate documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), making himself the majority shareholder and director of her late husband’s businesses. This enabled him to seize control of corporate bank accounts, withdraw funds, and commandeer the family’s wealth.

His brother-in -law, with the help of others, confiscated vehicles, phones, property documents, and other assets belonging to her husband. They even cleared and sold goods from the Mrs. Nweke husband’s warehouses and shops without her consent. Despite being the rightful heir to her husband’s estate under Nigerian law, Mrs. Onyinye was sidelined, disrespected, and threatened when she sought accountability.

Denied Dignity and Rights

At a family meeting convened to address the situation, the terms presented to her were demeaning and unjust. Her brother-in-law insisted on controlling the family’s resources, proposing that he will provide her and her children with a monthly stipend and pay school fees and rent. Refusing to accept such indignities, Mrs. Onyinye expressed her desire to manage her family’s resources independently—a request met with hostility and further threats.

Her brother-in-law and his accomplices using their wealth and influence intimidates her, boasting of their ability to manipulate the legal system. These threats against her life have left her and her children in a precarious and vulnerable position.

The widow is said to have sought the services of a lawyer based in Anambra State, Barr. Charles Odoemena who wrote petitions dated 25th October, 2024 to the IG of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun & to AIG of Zone 13, AIGP Godwin Aghaulor said “My brother-in-law, was arrested with one of his accomplices on 20th December, 2024 by policemen from Zone 13 handling the case. They were bailed on 23rd December, 2024. The case is ongoing at Zone 13. The next line of action by my lawyer & the Investigating Police officer is to file the case to court, a scheduled interview on, 7th January, 2025, at Zone 13 between the parties involved & the police.

A day after my brother-in-law & one of his accomplices were bailed, they stormed my husband's business premise & threatened that nobody can drive them away from the business. There are plans by the police to get a court injunction to seal my husband's warehouses & shops but due to insufficient funds on my part, the action has not taken effect. This made my brother-in-law up to this date to be carting away goods from the warehouses.

A Call for Justice

At Almanah Hope Foundation, we are deeply moved by Mrs. Onyinye’s plight and stand firmly by her side in her quest for justice. Widows like Mrs. Onyinye are often stripped of their rights, dignity, and property due to a combination of patriarchal traditions, greed, and systemic failure.

Why are the police not placing an injunction on the said warehouses?

Where is the widow to get the money?

Mrs Nweke is a trained medical doctor but for the sake of love and peace, she agreed to stay to take care of her husband and family at home, hence have absolutely nothing now with her brother-in-law and family living luxuriously on her income.

We call on the relevant authorities, including the Nigerian police, corporate regulators, and the judiciary, to investigate the numerous allegations of fraud, forgery, and misappropriation of assets outlined in this case. It is essential that the perpetrators of these acts are held accountable and that Mrs. Onyinye and her children are restored to their rightful position.

Advocacy and Support

Mrs. Onyinye’s case highlights the need for stronger laws to protect widows and their children from such exploitation. At Almanah Hope Foundation, we are committed to addressing the urgent need of providing social justice and economic inclusion; and our voice, emotional, and financial support to widows in dire situations like this.

We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, media, legal professionals, and advocacy groups to join us in this fight against injustice by rending their voices.

We call on especially the media and influencers to join in bringing these issues to the limelight to avoid the “Nigerian factor” on the voiceless.

Widows deserve respect, dignity, and the right to manage their families’ resources. Mrs. Onyinye’s courage in standing up to her oppressors despite immense challenges is her right. A right being suppressed, threatened and exploited.

We must all work toward a society where no widow has to fight such battles, talk less fighting it alone.

Together, we can create a future where every widow’s voice is heard, and their rights are protected.

We cannot all do the big things but the small things we do are actually what makes the big things.

The biggest thing we can do in our small way is to;

1. #share and #repost this story

2. Tag everyone you believe can speak.

3. If you're from her state, town and village, reach out and speak and act against this injustice.

4. If you are in the media, reach out to Mrs Nweke and publish story from her voice.

Almanah Hope Foundation: Advocating for Justice, Protecting Widows.