Posted by By Francis Awowole-Browne and Olatunbosun Sowemimo on
STRONG indication that the centre may no longer hold for family of pilot of the crashed Bellview plane which killed 117 people, Captain Lambert Imasuen emerged yesterday when two members of his family disowned one of his widows, Victoria.
STRONG indication that the centre may no longer hold for family of pilot of the crashed Bellview plane which killed 117 people, Captain Lambert Imasuen emerged yesterday when two members of his family disowned one of his widows, Victoria.
A Customs Officer, Victoria had lived with her husband until his death last Saturday and allegedly had children for him.
But speaking with Daily Champion yesterday, at the late pilot's Ajao estate Lagos residence, his family members said Victoria was not known to the family and so unwelcome.
They also raised alarm that an imposter had approached management of Bellview airlines claiming to be next of kin of the late pilot.
Younger brother to the late pilot, Eghosa Imasuen and his elder sister, Omonigho, alleged that property of their late brother were already being looted by suspected "relations of the self acclaimed widow."
They said the only widow known to the family was Florence who is presently with the late pilot's mother in Benin, mourning.
According to them, claims of marriage to their pilot brother by Victoria is a hoax and therefore, "we don't know her as a wife to our brother."
Eghosa and Omonigho challenged Victoria to come out and tell the world any member of the Imasuen family that knew and was present at their wedding, if indeed she was married to the late pilot.
"In Benin, we have a tradition and also marriage has a process. We don't know Victoria, the only person we know as our brother's wife is Florence now in Benin.
"Any other person is just wasting her time, Florence is our brother's wife, she has four children Uwa, Usosa Tracey and Osayande who is barely two years old.
"To the best of our knowledge Victoria is just a girl friend or at best a concubine. She has no child for Captain Imasuen our brother. No legal marriage between them. How come she is now claiming to be the widow," the relations argued.
They also told Daily Champion that imposters have invaded the family laying claims to the property of the late pilot.
Omonigho said the Bellview Airlines management had told the family of the presence of a 20-year old boy at the company claiming to be the next of kin to the dead pilot.
She further said, that the family and the Airlines management have reached an agreement that names filled by the late pilot in his employment form should be used to determine the next of kin.
However, speaking with Daily Champion Victoria explained that she was just a victim of circumstances lamenting that those claiming to be family members were no where to be found when Captain Imasuen was alive.
Sobbing, the widow said she had two children for her late husband and that she was duly and legally wedded to the Pilot with genuine family members in attendance.
Victoria, who was surrounded by her relations wondered why the death of her husband would now tear the family apart having lived peacefully with her husband for years.
Boasting she was ready to brave the odds to defend her rights in the family, Mrs Imasuen said she was aware that devil was at work and was using the family members that are now threatening her.
"I have two children for Captain. I am a legitimate wife," she stated.