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Jonah's boys stand up for their mum Nadene Lomu

Author
Joseph Los'e,
Publish Date
Tue, 10 Sep 2024, 11:10am
Nadene Lomu with her and Jonah's boys Dhyreille and Brayley.
Nadene Lomu with her and Jonah's boys Dhyreille and Brayley.

Jonah's boys stand up for their mum Nadene Lomu

Author
Joseph Los'e,
Publish Date
Tue, 10 Sep 2024, 11:10am

Jonah Lomu鈥檚 teenage sons Brayley and Dhyreille have jumped to the defence of their mum Nadene Lomu from critics and claims she鈥檚 only after their dad鈥檚 money.

Last month, a听court ruled that Nadene Lomu 鈥 Jonah鈥檚 wife at the time of his death in 2015 鈥 did not have the right to decide who gets the keys to the most-recognised name in rugby history, thereby green-lighting a yet-to-be-made movie on the South Aucklander, who became the most recognised rugby player on the planet.

Jonah Lomu played against South Africa in the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Photo / Ross SetfordJonah Lomu played against South Africa in the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Photo / Ross Setford

Brayley Lomu, 16, and 15-year-old Dhyreille Lomu took to their mother鈥檚 Facebook page to voice their concerns at their dad鈥檚 South Auckland gravesite.

鈥淭he birthday boy, our Jonah Jr, wanted to visit his dad鈥檚 grave for his birthday so we did. At the cemetery we were talking as we do,鈥 Nadene wrote and Brayley said: 鈥淢um, if dad were still here none of what鈥檚 happening to you would be done.鈥

His younger brother Dhyreille chipped in.

鈥淵eah mum, all those people and the lawyer too mum it鈥檚 disgusting mum what he鈥檚 doing and it makes me so angry,鈥 Dhyreille said.

鈥淗e鈥檚 our dad and you鈥檙e our mum, and they should all back off and leave you alone mum!鈥

Brayley added: 鈥淎nd mum it was only you and dad that did all his work together. Even all my mates know that, so what gives others the right to think it鈥檚 ok to do this to you.

Jonah Lomu with his wife Nadene and boys Dhyreille and Brayley. Jonah Lomu with his wife Nadene and boys Dhyreille and Brayley.

鈥淒ad would be so angry mum with what the lawyers doing to you and it鈥檚 our name too mum so what gives them the right to take what鈥檚 ours?

鈥淒ad left it to you. Don鈥檛 worry mum, we鈥檒l tell everyone the truth and how bad you鈥檝e been treated!

鈥淚f dad were still here mum, he would have protected you.鈥

鈥淓veryone was scared of dad aye mum. So none of them would have tried this crap, but it鈥檚 ok mum, we鈥檒l protect you!鈥

Nadene thanked her boys for their support.

鈥淭hanks boys. Just remember how much your dad and I love you both and I鈥檒l never stop fighting to protect what鈥檚 rightly ours and your dad鈥檚 wishes too! Your dad would be so proud of you both and I鈥檓 super proud of you guys! Jonah Jonah.鈥

Nadene Lomu with her and Jonah's boys Dhyreille and Brayley.Nadene Lomu with her and Jonah's boys Dhyreille and Brayley.

At the height of his rugby career in 1997, Jonah Lomu trademarked his own name, image and persona as intellectual property and registered it under his company Stylez Limited.

When he died in 2015 from chronic kidney disease, Lomu left the shares in that company to his lawyer, and the executor of his will, Christopher Darlow.

The following year Nadene Lomu made changes to Stylez Ltd鈥檚 records in the Companies Office to increase her shareholding. This prompted Darlow to remove her as a shareholder altogether.

Then in 2017, an agreement was reached to vary the original 1997 trademark and make Nadene a sub-licensee, meaning that if she wanted to use her husband鈥檚 name or image she鈥檇 need Darlow鈥檚 sign-off.

Following that signed agreement, Nadene filed a series of trademark applications in 2021 for the name 鈥淛onah Lomu鈥 covering everything from jewellery, health care products and above all film and television production.

UK-based production company Sylver Entertainment now has the green-light to film its documentary titled听Lomu, which it halted while the trademark dispute was settled.

Nadene Lomu told the听Herald听the battle over Jonah鈥檚 name was far from over.

鈥淚 am the sole residual beneficiary of Jonah鈥檚 estate and the lawyer has failed to administer the estate to me despite nine years in November. An executor鈥檚 role is of a temporary capacity of which his duty is to administer the wishes of Jonah which has failed to be fulfilled.

鈥淲e are still considering how to protect our family further against the wrongful actions of others.鈥

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