· Police Superintendent leads family front, says “It’s all a lie”
Kehinde Aroguma, a widow is currently battling her in-laws over possession and control of her late husband’s estate. She says they’re fencing her because all her children are female, but her in-laws says she separated from her husband long before his death and only came back to tussle for the property. Medinat Kanabe reports.
In time past, when a man dies without a male child, his property - no matter how vast - was shared amongst his brothers and relatives. In most cases, wives and children were also shared, although this has abated with modernity, campaigns and liberation laws against women and child oppression.
But the case is not so for Mrs Kehinde Aroguma, who married her husband in court in April 2008 but lost him to heart failure seven years later on August 27, 2015.
According to Mrs Aroguma, one of her late husband's brother, who claimed to be a commissioner of Police at Force Headquarters, Budget Department, Abuja, Mr Daniel Aroguma, is at the forefront of the onslaught, as he is using his influence and power to threaten and intimidate her.
Mrs Aroguma confessed that she and her husband never really had the best of marriages, but they tried to make it work, "which was why my husband sponsored my trip to America after we settled our last quarrel.”
Her story
Before our last quarrel, I had already spoken to my husband about travelling to America to see my siblings whom I had not seen in a long time. Then we had a quarrel and I remember pleading with him and even calling on my in-laws to help intercede on my behalf; but they neither picked my calls nor my father's.
Eventually my husband and I settled our differences and he later agreed to sponsor my trip. In preparation for that trip, I took my children to my parents' place since they're still too young to be left in the care of my busy husband. We agreed for him to be going to see them from time to time and dropping money for their upkeep. I left Nigeria in October 12, 2014 and got back on March 24, 2015.
When I got back, I went to my parents’ to see my children and to give my parents what I got for them. That evening my legs began to swell. At first I thought it was due to jetlag and would go down soon but it grew worse and my parents called my husband who had been visiting me to come and take me to a hospital.
Things grew worse and I was taken from the hospital to a church. Meanwhile, my husband was with me all the while. He came to the church to check on me regularly, paid for everything I needed but couldn't take me home because the pastor told him I should remain in the church until I got better. So I was in the church for three months and two weeks before I started getting better.
In the meantime, one of my siblings in America, who heard of my illness, sent a Toyota Avalon car with instructions to sell it and use the proceeds to offset my bills. But by the time the car arrived, I was already getting better, so I decided to go and clear the car myself, so it doesn't get into demurrage. I was at the place in Ikorodu that one of my friends, Iyabo (a police officer) came running to me, crying that my brother-in-law called to tell her that my husband had died.
I immediately rejected it and told her it couldn't be my husband because I only just spoke to him that afternoon.
I asked her how she knew I was at Ikorodu because she never bothered to visit me since I arrived and how she knew my brother in-law but she just said I should forget it and come with her.
On the way, she explained that my husband was driving home from work, had a heart attack and slumped and died on the wheels. She also said his corpse had been taken to the mortuary and led us to her house where we slept.
At this point, this reporter asked why she didn't go to her husband's house to sleep, especially at this critical time, Mrs Aroguma explained that her health was a factor and that she had also heard from the grapevine that her husband had another woman in the house.
"I called my husband concerning this issue while I was in America and he said she was just someone helping around the house. I partly believed him and knew that as soon as I was very well, I would go back to my husband’s house; but that didn’t happen until he died.
“The following day I went to my father’s place; my uncle took me in his car to the mortuary but while I was there, I started receiving calls from our tenants that my husband’s brothers came and were excited about the property they saw. One of them, I was told said “Wow! Very good, these properties belong to us. Thank God he only has female children. They are not recognised in our place. If they try to come here we will kill them. I heard they even said my husband was too proud and wanted everything for himself....
“Our tenants were shocked to hear such things from such strange faces because my husband’s family rarely came to our house. They have never being to our house since we got married.”
At the burial
During the sermon at the burial, one of my friends who sat close to the CP and Mr Edmond heard them talking about my plan to come and observe the traditional mourning period known as opo. She said the CP vehemently said it was not possible and that if I insisted, he would kill me. His exact words: “Wetin she wan come do here. This things belong to us.”
It was the fear of what she overheard that made my friend come to tell me. She said if I didn’t want to die, I shouldn’t border going to his house to observe the mourning.
The burial itself was so unceremonious. No wake-keep. It was just from mortuary to the grave. The eldest brother Mr Edmond Aroguma said they should open the coffin for us to see his face for the last time but his brother, Daniel Aroguma the CP refused. He even barred me and my daughters from performing the traditional dust-to-dust rite.
“Immediately the pastors left, the CP and his brothers came to me. They said they knew how difficult my husband was, that he was too distant from the family and that was why they didn’t respond to my calls when we had issues the last time.
“They said they had retrieved some property documents from the duplex and that they want to gather everything. They learnt that my husband had a lot of landed properties, they said, and that would come over to my dad’s place to give everything to me.
“One of them even came and said all sorts of negative things about my late husband, that he was wicked, never cared for the family, didn’t deserve to be mourned.... We had to tell him to let the dead be.
Showing their true colours
The following Saturday, my dad called to ask when they were coming but they said they couldn’t come, that the estate my husband left behind was not well planned; the tenants were owing a lot; his nylon factory that needs attention and so on. My dad asked when they could come, but the promised to come almost reluctantly and cut off the call.
Three weeks later, they called to ask if my husband had a will. I said I didn’t know, that he was just 44. I said if any lawyer had his will, he would soon come forward.
After some days, they called that they needed my attention to sign some documents; but I had made up my mind not to go or break my mourning.
Before anything, they had gone for a letter of administration. I never knew what a letter of administrator was until then. They kept calling and asking questions about those owing my husband; that the generator at the back of the house needed to be sold; the vehicles needed to be sold; because they had incurred expenses of about N5million during his burial. Meanwhile this burial was sponsored by the community people.
After 41 days, I came out of my mourning restriction and went to my matrimonial home in Ikorodu. The house was locked and I called them to ask for the keys. They said I could not go in until I signed some documents for them. I told them point blank that I wasn’t going to sign anything, that I could now see that they are happy at my husband’s death.
“One of them, a pastor with the Redeem Christian Church of God, Province 63, Igede, Onitoro, Mr Charles Aroguma said I could not enter the house, that my children are girls, and are not recognised in their culture. This pastor said my marriage with my husband is not recognised, that he had once been married. He is the one pressurising me the most to come and sign. He said they needed me to sign, so they could have access to my husband’s money in the bank.
Revelation of a first wife
“I guess they brought up the stuff about my husband being married before to deflate my resolve, seeing that I wasn’t ready to cooperate. They said the woman before me was my husband’s legal and if I don’t cooperate, they will use her to take everything from me. They said a second marriage is not recognised in Nigeria that the woman left because she could not have children for my husband but is still his wife by law. I told them to go ahead. I asked where the woman was when I was marrying my husband and why they kept quiet all the while. Even our wedding reception was held at the CP’s house and they fully welcomed me into the family
“The next thing, they said I should come and sign for N200, 000 to rent an apartment and start a business!
“I was embarrassed. So I initially refused, but when I started finding it difficult to feed my children, I accepted and the pastor paid N100, 000 into my bank account. I asked when they would give me the balance, he said as soon as I signed.
Enough is enough
“After going through this treatment for a while, I just decided one day I just said to myself that I couldn’t continue like this, that I have to fight for my children. So I told my dad that I was going back to my house and left.
“When my neighbours and tenants saw me, they told me how my husband’s brother had started bringing in people to inspect the houses and estate. The tenants are afraid that the house would be sold even while their tenancy is still running. They said they have so far paid over N500,000 to my husband’s people, but the pastor said they have only realised N144,000.”
“At this point, I went to make a report at the police station at Igbogbo. I told them that my late husband’s people have seized the keys to my matrimonial home and are refusing me entry. I showed them my marriage certificate and the police officer said I could go in.
So I got home I took my brother and my pastor to help me break open the locked gate and entered the house. I found that they had closed my husband’s offices, sent away the staff and put the office appliances in the house. They took away three vehicles: a Camry (Big daddy), Honda (End of discussion) and a bus that we used to distribute nylons. They left only one vehicle, the jeep that needs repair in the compound.
“I stopped the tenants from paying into the account of a certain lawyer my husband’s brothers had introduced to them and called the lawyer to intimate him of the new development. He said okay but that he was told that I had been paid off. I then told the tenants to be paying into my account. I wrote Caveat Emptor on the buildings because all the documents are with them.
“Since then the CP has been calling me, sending me all sorts of SMS. Even my husband’s sister Esther has been sending me messages insulting and threatening me. I printed out all the SMS and gave them to my lawyers.
He also wrote a petition against them, but the one who calls himself a CP keeps telling me that I’m just wasting my time.
When The Nation called one of the brothers, Daniel Aroguma regarding the matter, he refuted it saying it’s all blatant lie. “What really happened” he said “is that she was married to my younger brother, and then they had issues. My brother died on the 27th of August but before then she was no longer staying in my brother’s house.
“She left the house with the kids and when we inquired from our brother, he said she had been married to another man for whom she had two children without telling him. Before my brother died, he was looking for her but she lied that she had gone to the US; even her parents lied too just to keep my brother away from her because he was going to press charges against her.
When asked if the woman was still married to his brother before his death, and whether there was a divorce, he said look I am telling you that they had a quarrel and he drove her away. Husband and wife do quarrel and the quarrel was for about a year before he died.
I don’t want to drag issues with her, a woman that since my brother died, she never communicated to any of the family members. On the day of the burial, we had to go and bring her from her father’s house and within 30 minutes of the burial ceremony she disappeared.
Asked if it is true that a day after his brother’s death they began to struggle for his property, he said listen there are different human beings on earth. Yoruba people have tried to speak with her even I have tried to speak with her father to tell him that in Igboland we don’t do things this way but she wouldn’t listen.
Told that the woman brought evidence that she travelled out of the country and that the trip was sponsored by her husband Daniel said even her lawyer has sent copies of the travel document but I don’t know for her. You see, you don’t have to behave this way, if people are advising you do the right thing. My brother has a father, you have to mourn your husband, you have to do certain things. You did not mourn the man but ran away after the burial.
Even after that we sent N100, 000 to her and N200, 000 monthly for the upkeep of her children. Even the community have said she is lucky to be married in that family.
On whether they told her that they would pay her off with N250, 000 to stay away from her husband’s house and properties, he said it is a blatant lie.
That is why the first lawyer she brought backed off the case saying it is clear that our hands are clean. She has gone to another lawyer and I have told her that she is wasting her little money. I have asked her that if it were her brother that died and his wife was behaving this way how would she feel.
On if they called her at any time to come and sign documents he said who called her that she is lying, nobody see her. Asked if Pastor Charles didn’t call, he said if you meet my brother you will be shocked at the family we come from. You will be shocked at how nice we are. Everything she is saying there is a lie.
Mind you my brother was married in 2001 and the married is not broken yet. He married this lady because the other woman could not give him a child.
He also said that they never told her that she wouldn’t be recognised because she has only girls adding that he is surprised as what she is saying. “I have four girls too.”
I have only seen this woman four times in my life since 2005. I have never had a quarrel with her; I have never spoken to her. I even asked her what I have done to her to deserve all these.
The Nation asked him if he was at her wedding as he just mentioned that his brother was married before and the wedding is still viable.
He replied saying I will tell you what happened. Ordinarily I was not supposed to be there because I know the implications. I also had in mind that day that if anything happens there, there would be arrest so we were very cautious.
The reception was done in my house because I cannot forsake my brother. I even told him that all these things are not right. That he should be patient with his wife and she would have children soon but he said he cannot wait any longer and already this one was pregnant. So I said well you can have more than one wife.
On why the family is raising this issue 12 years after their marriage, he said she is the problem. No family member raised any issue on this matter before. Everything is strange to us. My brother told me that all his property should go to his children and that is what I am following. He even wrote it on one of his houses and I told them that nobody should deprive them of motherly care as their father is dead now.
My brother told me before he died that he doesn’t have a wife that she took his children to her father. When I tried calling her father, he didn’t take my calls.
Even they wanted to hold her responsible for the death of my brother, but I told my father to leave her. The next thing I heard was that she said I want to kill her.
Asked if they have plans to keep the property in trust for the children he said he has spoken to his brother’s lawyer that everything should be given to the children when they get to the age of 18.
She was involved in the plans from the beginning but all of a sudden she just changed. People who want to partake in the property are advising her wrongly. I also have information that she wants to bring her first husband back.
We told her to go and see my father in the village. If she is scared of my village she should walk into any police station and make a report.
The Nation confirmed his designation by saying sir, you are a police commissioner you know that it isn’t possible for her to get a police escort.
He said listen if you say police commissioner, I think you are wrong but let me tell you one thing, nobody threatened this woman. Have I ever spoken to her? Ask her.
The Nation then asked if he meant that she can go to her late husband’s house in Ikorodu and he said where you are from you have culture and tradition. If you love someone and the person dies and before his death his wife was not living with him and you had to go and bring her from the house to witness his burial. After everything will you say she should go to the house that she abandoned for over a year?
Anyway I have told her that she will continue going from one lawyer to another because everything she is saying are blatant lies. We will meet in court where everybody will go and say their position.
Daniel Aroguma: Not a CP but SP
The story took a twist when one Rasaq Olayiwola called The Nation to say Daniel is not a commissioner of police but a Superintendent of police. I am very close to the late so when I heard the story I decided to check out because a CP should not get himself involved. I am a very close friend of police. I called three different commissioners who said they don’t know him. I went deeper, called the admin at first health quarters, Abuja where I confirmed that he isn’t a CP but an SP.
The Nation decided to call him to make a change in our report so that he will not be addressed wrongly and get into trouble with his office. When this reporter called and asked him for his designation explaining that someone said he isn’t CP but SP, he replied by saying, one Rasaq him to say they want to settle that they are appealing because the story you want to publish is completely false because the person that gave you that story is already begging so please just give me one hour to call you back.
The Nation asked that he just confirm so that changes can be made in his designation in the story but he insisted in calling back. This reporter asked again if he is CP or SP and he replied “that is not me,” the reporter asked again, what is your position and he said I cannot give you until I confirm the person talking to me. This is not impersonation.
After 30 minutes, he called back saying it seem you people are interested in this case, when replied in the affirmative, he asked again “as her lawyer or as what?”
This reporter replied saying as any other story and he said just advice her, if you can call a meeting, call a meeting, I will be there; then he said “hold on for my lawyer,” who began to threaten this reporter.
He said: “I just want to tell you that if you report this story, we will sue your company for libel, slander and for so many other things. I am not threatening you but warning you.”
After about one hour, Daniel called again saying this reporter called to confirm something. When told that she has spoken to his lawyer and got his message, Daniel said I hope you have our side of the story. “I just wanted to confirm but one thing I want you to know is that she is begging and at the same time reporting so we want to clarify a position. They are trying to make peace because she has everything to lose. I am sure she didn’t know my rank before, she was guessing; I am a superintendent of police. So it is not an issue, if she doesn’t know, then she is guessing.”
Edmond Aroguma
Two days after The Nation spoke with Daniel, Mrs Kehinde Aroguma came to our office to say she got a call from the eldest child of the family, Mr Edmond.
He said he is sorry about what she is going through.
According to her he said he is disappointed in his brothers, taking the cars and money. “He said he is ready to die on the issue that it has caused problems in the family and that they are using the opportunity of their brother’s death to treat me poorly.
He said Charles, Daniel and Julius just want to reap from where they did not sow. When The Nation tried to reach him, his number was not available.
Pastor Charles Aroguma: We love her and the children
When The Nation asked him about the car and alleged harassment, he said as a woman, if your brother dies and before he dies he and his wife were not living together and after he died she didn’t deem it fit to go and see any member of the family one on one. You cannot stay hundred miles away and be throwing tantrums.
Ask her if we have seen her one on one after the burial; we invited her but she refused to come. Secondly, there is a first marriage done by my brother which is still on. We are in touch with the woman and we have been calling her to come and join the meetings. She has been going from one lawyer to the other to a retired commissioner of police.
If someone dies at least you should go to his family. Since the husband died she has not spoken to the father which is not fair. If she comes to you advice her to go and see her husband’s family, this is a small matter that can be resolved easily, but everything about her is just property.
Let her do the right thing. She had two children from a former marriage, we didn’t know until recently. The cars are with me and they are covered. I have three cars of my own so those ones she mentioned are not part of it.
Advice her, tell her to come to us and schedule a meeting. She does not have to be scared; she can come with anybody, even you. it doesn’t favour her, anybody or the children. Tell her the Aroguma family loves her and her children; tell her we can seat on a table and resolve this issue with the family of the other woman, tell her every property belongs to her children.
The properties and children
The properties are located in plot 12, Ayagbo street, off Lagos road, Majidun, Ikorodu, 18, Yusuf street, Selewu, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Soga street, Selewu, Igbobo, Ikorodu and Abule, Selewu, Igbogo, Ikorodu.
The companies that her husband owned before his death includes, Maxi Express and Logistics Limited, a Korea company, Admix oil and gas limited and a nylon producing company.
The children are Ethel 10, Lynda 9 and Matilda 5 and right now they are out of school because their mother is scared to leave them out of her sight. “When we went back to the house, we didn’t enjoy our stay as we cannot walk on the street without hoodlums chasing us.”
Mrs Aroguma Kehinde brought documents of her husband’s businesses to The Nation for sighting and all the beneficiaries are the children.
.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment