This action was prompted by a report from Mrs. Chinelo Aghaji, who alleged that after her husband’s death, her in-laws took her two children from her and forcefully evicted her from her home. Despite attempts to resolve the matter peacefully through their kindred, Emmanuel Aghaji and his siblings allegedly rejected all mediation efforts.
Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon. Ify Obinabo, released a statement on Thursday, August 22, 2024, addressing the situation. The government’s intervention underscores its commitment to protecting the rights of widows and ensuring that they are not subjected to unjust treatment, particularly in vulnerable situations such as the loss of a spouse.
After a series of interrogations by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, it was discovered that the in-laws had allegedly fixed the burial date of the late Paulinus Chukwuduruo Aghaji without involving the wife.
Speaking, Obinabo urged the community members, president generals, and local government transition committee chairman to rally around the widow and give her the necessary support needed to bury her husband.
She then warned that anyone who would stand in the way of the state government by excluding the widow from the burial of her late husband would face the law.
The burial is slated to be held on Saturday, 24th of August, 2024, at Achina.
In the obituary, the deceased is described as a son, brother, father, uncle and in-law. There is no mention of him as a husband.
