Richard and Miguel Enwerem, the two children of one time Senate President, Evans Enwerem, were this morning sentenced to one month imprisonment each for disobeying the orders of a Federal High Court in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Ola Toregun Ishola will later today to review if the sentence can be suspended.
The journey to Ikoyi prison for Richard and Miguel started last year when their step-mother Vivian Enwerem dragged them before the court.
She complained and alleged that the two men had sidelined her in the running of the estate of their late father.
At the centre of the legal hostility are two properties at 95/96 Ladipo Street, Mushin, Lagos, comprising 240 lockup shops and four warehouses.
She said they have not been rendering the proceeds to anybody.
Thereafter, the court made an order directing the two men to file the statement of the account of the property before the court, the proceeds of the same property should be deposited in an interest yielding account at Guarantee Trust Bank in the name of the registrar of the court. The two men did not obey the order of the court.
Consequently, forms 48 and 49 were filed against them.
However, their lawyer, Mr. Osunwa from Fred Agbaje chambers filed an objection against the contempt of court proceedings.
However, in her ruling this morning, Justice Olatoregun Ishola while dismissing the objection, said the two men failed to obey the order of the court. They are therefore liable. She sentenced them to one month imprisonment each.
She said the lawyer of the two men, Mr. Clement Osunwa jeopardised the interest of his clients by advising them wrongly.
The lawyer was alleged to have filed his application in an arrogant manner. If not for the magnanimity of the court, the judge said Osunwa should have joined his client in the march to the prison.
After the judgement, one of the children, Richard, said to be in Owerri was ordered to be arrested.
Counsel to Mrs. Enwerem, Barrister Victor Gwam told the court that plans are underway to settle the matter amicably since it is a family rift.
Thereafter, the judge stepped down the matter to see if she could suspend the sentence.
Justice Olatoregun Ishola then asked Mrs. Enwerem: “Are you happy that your step-children are being taken to the prison over a dead man’s property?”
A stunned and visibly shaken Mrs. Enwerem could not respond to the question.
As at the time of this report, the court was yet to decide whether or not to suspend the sentence.
—Akin Kuponiyi
