Mrs. Nnenna Nwoke Kalu has petitioned the Lagos High Court about rights violation and child abandonment committed by her estranged husband, Mr. Chinyere Idika Kalu, younger brother of the former minister of finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu.
In the petition entitled: ‘Suit No ID/1308WD/2006. Mrs. Nnenna Nwoke Kalu V. Mr. Chinyere Agwu Idika Kalu: Request for alternative/immediate means of resolution’ and addressed to the court’s registratrar, Kalu said Chinyere abandoned her and the only child of the union Victor Chinomnso Kalu in June 1993, three months after the child was born.
“All these years, from June 1993, three months after the birth of the child when Mr. Kalu left home, I had single-handedly borne the burden of the only child of the union, (Victor Chinomnso Kalu) – feeding, clothing, school fees, and health – dental, optical, general welfare and upkeep,” she said.
She alleged that so many years after Chinyere had left her and the child, he showed up at the school which the boy attended for reasons best known to him.
Consequently, she said she had to send the boy out of the country for security safety reasons.
“Followed a life threatening experience where Mr. Kalu suddenly appeared in his Chrisland Secondary school, Idimu, in the early hours of a school (non-visiting) day in the company of a trained weapon carrying officer of the Nigerian army (Lieutenant Colonel), requesting for the child. The court was duly informed. This was alarming, remembering too, that the Nigerian state is still battling with insecurity of lives and property,” she said.
Besides, she said while her marriage subsists, “Mr. Kalu remarried and has had three children, contrary to the dictates of the court for which presently he is answerable in a criminal case of bigamy, child abuse and perjury.”
The petition
Suit No ID/1308WD/2006. Mrs. Nnenna Nwoke Kalu Vs Mr. Chinyere Agwu Idika Kalu: Request for alternative/immediate means of resolution.
Your Lordship,
I. It is with utmost respect that I write to you on issues pressing on above matter before your esteemed self. I respectfully appeal that should there be the slightest window of opportunity, however small, where the law allows a “client in distress” to address your Lordship, the presiding judge directly in this manner, I humbly invoke it. Otherwise, may I entreat your Lordship that such privilege is granted me.
II. I wish to remind your Lordship that the above matter has been before you since 2006; following an inconclusive matter filed in Port Harcourt by Mr. Kalu, less than 2 years into the life of the marriage, 1995.
III. All these years, from June 1993, three months after the birth of the child when Mr. Kalu left home, I had single-handedly borne the burden of the only child of the union, (Victor Chinomnso Kalu)– feeding, clothing, school fees, and health – dental, optical, general welfare and upkeep. Even the cheques of N2, 000 for monthly upkeep the three months before he left home, were returned unpaid by his bankers (copy of which is in the custody of the court).
IV. I also, humbly wish to remind this Honourable court that the decision to send Victor out of the country:
a. Followed a life threatening experience where Mr. Kalu suddenly appeared in his Chrisland Secondary school, Idimu, in the early hours of a school (non-visiting) day in the company of a trained weapon carrying officer of the Nigerian army (Lieutenant Colonel), requesting for the child. The court was duly informed. This was alarming, remembering too, that the Nigerian state is still battling with insecurity of lives and property.
b. Moreover, while this marriage is still subsisting, Mr. Kalu remarried and has had three (3) children, contrary to the dictates of the court for which presently he is answerable in a criminal case of bigamy, child abuse and perjury.
c. In the event of a harm or and kidnap to the child, Mr. Kalu would have lost nothing since he has invested nothing in him- finance, emotion, etc.
d. I also wish to remind this respected court that I am a proud product of the Nigerian school system and would not have caused this separation with my only child, without this ostensible threat to his life.
e. Moreover, the children of Mr. Kalu’s other marriage are living and studying in the United Kingdom, where he is paying their bills.
f. Also, my son, Victor’s welfare package from his place of work (Addax Petroleum) has not been accounted for by Mr. Kalu.
V. My lawyers, particularly since the take-over of this matter by his lawyer, Barr Taiwo, have all consistently behaved and performed seemingly weird. From the one that will not file a letter from the late Attorney General, Chief Mike Agbamuche urging Mr. Kalu to take up his responsibility towards his legitimate family, in answer to Mr. Kalu’s denial of several requests made to him to pay his child’s bills; to the immediate past lawyer who would give me further dates in order to ensure my exclusion from my matter(s). I am presently confronted with a recalcitrant lawyer who has failed to see reasons why this matter should be concluded but believes the case should at this point join other parties for selfish reasons yet undisclosed. In trying to convince her, in the last date of the matter, I regretfully lost my cool.
VI. Your Lordship, I believe this pattern of seeming influence and or intimidation is a calculated effort to waste the time of this Honourable court and my resources, since while this drama lasts I continue to pay the bills. Your Lordship, as I write, Victor is out of school for nonpayment of the balance of his tuition fees. The school has suspended the use of facilities since January and threatening complete suspension of classes, (Please see attached school documents). And this is seriously affecting him and calls for my prompt presence in the school.
VII. Since after my resignation from work, prompted by Mr. Kalu and having this burden laced up on me, I have had to borrow virtually all the money I committed to the upbringing of Victor. Most of the money borrowed with my business name understandably came with very high interest rate on compound bases. Right now, fresh bills are out, my creditors are putting pressure for payment, and my business has virtually crumbled. Yes, Victor turned 21 on the 12th of March 2014, but he was not born 21. He was abandoned at three months by Mr. Kalu who cannot lay claims to purchasing a single singlet, pair of stockings or a pack of diaper for him till date. As one of my creditors, who has a right to his voice in this matter rightly asked ‘what does Mr. Kalu come to stand in court for? He should be made to know you are not considering a piece of furniture but a dependent child whose basic needs are growing with him’.
VIII. I therefore , very humbly solicit the understanding of your Lordship to kindly find an alternative way to resolve this dispute – to deal with financial aspect of this matter separately and probably, urgently too. This will enable me meet the present pressing issues, and pay up all past lingering debts.
Your Lordship, this letter has not been written or caused to be written (instigated), reviewed, edited, or contributed to by any other person order than me. I might not know the language of the court or its procedure but I have made my humble petition believing that the outcome would certainly be as your Lordship pleases.
Yours faithfully,
Nnenna Nwoke Kalu
Petitioner
