By Nwokoma Ndubueze
Orogwe Customary Court in Owerri jurisdiction of Imo State is in the judicial process to determine the dispute over claim of the kindred names; Durunneji na Nwere versus Nweremekakam na Durunneji, which is an embattled Kindred name in Nchoko Village in Amiri Community of Oru East Local Government Area,Imo state.
The matter which was brought before His Lordship C. Onyeziri and two other members of the court; Mr. T. N. Onuh and Mr. Theo. Ofonye, has gotten to the cross
examination stage with the first Prosecution Witness, (Pw1), Barrister Ambrose Ndukaku who is also one of the plaintiffs in the suit testifying.
During the cross examination with the questions asked by the lead Counsel of the 14 Plaintiffs / Applicants against the 16 Defendants/ Respondents, which included the President General and Secretary of Nchoko Development Union, NDU, Barrister H. N. Nwafor told the Court that the matter was in continuation of the hearing of the evidence of the first Plaintiff witness, (PW1), Barrister Ambrose Ndukaku in the suit .
Barrister Nwafor asked the questions while Barrister Ndukaku replied; what is the name of your grandfather?
Barr Ndukaku said that their grand parent’s name was Mbubu who begot Mbutu and that Mbutu begot Nweremekakam.
On how many children their grandfather had?
Barr Ndukaku said that their grandparent had three sons but was unable to mention them.
Nwafor demanded that Barrister Ndukaku should mention their names.
Barrister Ndukaku later gave their names as , their names as; Nweremekakam, Durunneji, and one other name he didn’t recall ,even as he explained that it was Nweremekakam who was the first migrant of Nchoko Village, for that reason he had the authority of holding the Ofo, since he was the person who created the village.
He further stated that when Nweremekakam died, the Ofo was transferred to Durunneji who was the younger brother of the deceased person, and also that the Ofo was in his custody till he joined his ancestors.
Speaking further,he informed that when Durunneji died, the children of Nweremekakam went to retrieve the Ofo from Durunneji family, where the children approached one Ezinne in the process of the movements, but all efforts to repossess or take over the Ofo peacefully from the deceased’s family had proved abortive.Consequent upon that refusal the plaintiff had no choice but to come to court.
The matter was thereafter adjourned for hearings to Wednesday ,September 17, 2025, October 15, 2025, November 5 and 12 , respectively..
