June 06, (THEWILL) – Sponsors of biography of the former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom state, late Idongesit Nkanga, are claiming more than N1 billion as compensation from the family for taking over the intellectual property, thereby, short changing them in the deal.
In a suit number HU/133/2022, filed in High court 2, uyo judicial division, dated April 1, 2022, the claimants, Messrs Usienemfon Joseph Akpakpan and Umanah Edet James, prayed the court to grant them N1.2 billion as damages, to recover expenses incurred to sponsor the biography of the former governor titled, “Leadership Footprints of Idongesit Nkanga”, billed for launch, one month to the sudden death of the deceased.
However, the defendants: Princewill Using Daniel, Mrs Mosunsola Olufunmilayo Idongesit, Elder Amanam Okon Nkanga, who is the chairman, executors of the will of the deceased, Barr Jacob Udobang, Secretary Executors of the same will, as well as Mr Etietop Idongesit Nkanga were accused of secretly launching the said biography and made several millions of naira without the consent of sponsors.
They also alleged that the defendants breached the memorandum of understanding relating to the production of the contentious biography and deface the title cover, just to short change the sponsors.
Appearing for the defendants on Monday, Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN), asked the court to adjourn the matter to July 26, 2022, for further mention, as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants were absent from court.
Justice Archibong Archibong, therefore, adjourned the matter to July 26, 2022 for further mention.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendants and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom, Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN), in an interview with newsmen, said the matter is a family feud that can be settled out of court.
He pleaded with the parties to allow the deceased, who was a statesman, to rest in peace.
“It is a family feud and I think as much as they can, we should try and resolve it.
“I will encourage a settlement, possibly out of court because to me, anything that involves somebody’s name and has to do with the executor of the will (a brother of the deceased person), the children, the wife are involved, is a family issue.
“To me, I think all parties should try as much as possible to ensure that the matter is settled out of court. The man has died and should be allowed to rest in peace. And more importantly, the family name.”
Counsel to the claimants, Barr Victor Nkanang, after the court session, said the fact that the family of late Idongesit Nkanga has gone wrong with persons who laboured to write the book on his name.
According to him, “we cannot also get away from the fact that late Idongesit Nkanga’s family has gone wrong with some persons. Remember that in court, we always say where there is wrong, there is a remedy and the only place you can get remedy is in the court.
“To show good faith on our path, we took ourselves to them for settlement. We have worked very hard, give us compensation for what we have worked for. But unfortunately, they refused after we had traversed the whole country to gather materials for the production of the biography, and when it was time to allow the publication, they changed the name; that is why we are in court.
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