MRS. LOIS CHITURU UKEJE & ANOR V. MRS GLADYS ADA UKEJE

OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): On the 27th day of December 1961 Lazarus Ogbonnaga Ukeje a native of Umahia in Imo State died intestate. He had real property in Lagos State and for most of his life was resident in Lagos State. The 1st appellant got married to the deceased on the 13th of December 1956. There are four children of the marriage. The respondent is one of four. After Lazarus Ogbonnaga Ukeje died, the 1st and 2nd appellants' (mother and son) obtained letters of Administration for and over the deceased's Estate. On being aware of this development the plaintiff/respondent filed an action in court wherein she claimed to be a daughter of the deceased and by virtue of that fact had a right to partake in the sharing of her late father's estates. Her claims before a Lagos High Court were for:

1. A declaration that the plaintiff, as a daughter of one L.O. Ukeje (deceased), is the person entitled to the estate or one of the person entitled to share in th…