Delta State-based activist Isreal Joe has demanded justice for a young widow who is allegedly being dehumanised and physically assaulted by her late husband's family. The deceased, 46-year-old Okpeko Henry, passed away on June 1 after slumping during an outing in Udu. According to the grieving widow, following her husband's sudden demise, his family members allegedly turned against her, demanding the immediate release of his property documents.
Family Demands and Allegations
Joe said in addition to the property demands, the relatives have questioned the paternity of the widow's four children and subjected her to physical violence. The activist issued a stern warning to the family to stop terrorising the widow and her children, vowing to take legal action if the harassment continues.
In a detailed account, Joe narrated that Okpako Henry, who owned a big phone and gadgets shop at Robson Plaza Deco Road, was last seen by his brothers on the day of his death. The brothers met him at his hotel on June 1, where he entertained them. He later went out with a lady, ate and drank, only to tell the brothers he wanted to get fuel and that his leg was hurting him. They rushed back to where the brothers were to call them that Mr. Henry slumped and had been rushed to Lonia hospital Udu road, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
Widow's Ordeal
The wife was invited to the village, interrogated by the family, and was beaten mercilessly along with her four children. The family claimed they went to check spiritually and discovered that it was the wife that killed their brother. The family is in Abraka, and some of the brothers are asking the wife to submit the documents of all the houses and hotel. They also demanded she do DNA for her four children to prove they belong to their late brother.
According to the family, when their brother was alive, he bothered about only the wife and children and did not look out for them. Joe described this as a typical episode of African traditional suffering melted on widows. The family also said they want to control their brother's wealth, drive the wife away before they would bury their brother. They also claimed one of the tenants of their houses paid rent after the man's death and the woman should submit the money along with all the accounts of the man. They also requested that the wife pay for both autopsy and DNA of the four children.
Legal Warning
Joe issued a stern warning to the Okpako family, stating, "It is alright, dear Okpako family, all that you guys have done is ENOUGH. None of you would dare it to beat up the widow and her children ever. You can't even demand his properties, control it or drive the children for which two are already teenagers out of their father's house. If you guys don't want to bury your brother and leave the family alone, that is your problem but if you guys ever dare it. We shall invoke the instrumentality of the law against you for trespass. The ones u have done is the last having come to my attention."
He further questioned the family's actions, "Beating her and the children for what exactly? That she fell down from the sky or she doesn't have a family? Una never bury una brother una don go all the houses go tell tenants make nobody pay rent to the widow. Make una nor put unaselves for race. Na those houses and hotel una wan collect so go finally put una for trouble. If you guys don't leave the woman and children alone, we shall come after you guys as well and if una feel say na joke, make una try am again."
