The controversy trailing the distribution of assets left behind by the late Herbert Wigwe, former Access Bank CEO has left many Nigerians shocked as to why his family, especially his 90-year old father is dragging his grandchildren to court few months after his death.
Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the late banking czar is currently in court with other family members- notably Herbert’s cousin, Christian Wigwe to alter the arrangements made in the will.
Others also contesting the will are Joyce Shyngle-Wigwe, the late Herbert’s sister and their brother, Emeka.
Under an order dated November 18, 2024, the suit number ID/7735FPM/2024 which was filed against Access Bank Plc, Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd, and United Securities Ltd, also named as defendants, Uche Wigwe, Aigboje A.I.G. Imoukhuede, and Miss Otutochi Channel Wigwe.
The claimants also sought an order for the appointment of Otutochi Wigwe, Uche Wigwe, Shyngle Wigwe, and two professionals—Zedra Trust Company (Isle of Man), a subsidiary of Zedra Corporate Solutions UK Limited (International Professional), and Pricewaterhouse Coopers Limited (Local Professional)—as interim administrators of Herbert Wigwe’s estate, pending the resolution of the substantive suit.
Also, the applicants requested an order placing Herbert Wigwe’s minor children (Chituru David Wigwe, Wegu & Hannah Wigwe, and Okachi Great Wigwe) under the joint guardianship of Otutochi Wigwe, Uche Wigwe, Emeka Wigwe, Shyngle Wigwe, and the two professionals, with Shyngle Wigwe overseeing their welfare.
Going further, they also sought authorisation for the interim administrators to maintain and ensure the welfare of Herbert Wigwe’s dependents, liaise with third parties regarding financial or property interests, submit monthly reports to the court, and obtain full disclosure from Access Bank Plc, Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd, and United Securities Ltd concerning shares or financial interests held on behalf of the deceased.
Delivering his ruling on February 6, Justice Olayinka Adeyemi of a Lagos High Court dismissed their application, saying their claims are unsustainable.
Undaunted, the family on February 13 filed an appeal to challenge the ruling of the court.
Recall that Herbert, his wife, Chizoba, and their son Chizi Wigwe died in a plane which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024. The trio were buried on March 9, 2024 in Isiokpo, Rivers state.
How The Late Wigwe Willed His Assets – Family Member
Speaking with TheScrutinyNG, a family member of the Wigwes, who said she was embarrassed by the development, blamed the late Herbert’s siblings for the whole crisis.
According to her, she was shocked that some members of the family had approached the court to fight over assets barely eight months after Herbert’s untimely passage.
She told our correspondent, “As a member of the Wigwe family, I am deeply embarrassed by the whole thing. It is just the first annoversary of Herbert, his wife and their son’s death and we should all be in sober reflection, not fghting over mundane things”.
“It is Emeka and Joyce Wigwe that are instigating the old man (Herbert’s father). They all have no business with the will at all. Herbert’s will didn’t include his parents at all because he never envisioned that he will die before his parents. He took good care of them during his lifetime and ensured they lacked nothing. His dream was to give them a befitting burial when they die but as fate will have it, he went before them”.
When asked if he made any provision for his siblings in the will, our source said the late Herbert willed all his assets to his children equally.
She also queried the belief of the family that the eldest daughter of the late Herbert, Otutochi is too young to manage the assets.
“The will is very clear. He willed all his assets equally to his children. During his lifetime, he never got along with his siblings, especially Emeka”.
“I find out curious their claims that a 26-year old savvy, intelligent and educated lady is ‘too young’ to manage the assets her late parents left behind. Did she complain to them that she is too young to manage it?”.
On the accusation by the family that the late Herbert’s partner and Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is taking an indirect guardianship of his children and assets while also assuming the role that belong to Herbert’s father, she said “ That can’t be true. We need to ask Tochi, are you comfortable with the role Aigboje is playing or not? She is an adult and can decide for herself and younger siblings. Has she come out to compain about anything? The whole thing reeks of nothing but greed”.
“ What they don’t know is that Herbert may be gone but he was an asset of Nigeria. A lot of Nigerians are still involved in the welfare of his assets, especially the children and they are monitoring the developments. He has committee of wealthy and important personalities and even Aigboje can’t take any decision without consulting with them” she said.
In a post on his Facebook page, a public affairs analyst with knowledge of the issue, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu wrote “Herbert Wigwe’s extended family and the kids he left behind are on a warpath. The war started immediately. Herbert, the benefactor of the warring parties, was buried last year. What is at the heart of the war is the vast wealth that Herbert left behind.
“In his lifetime, Herbert had a cousin who is a lawyer, Uche Wigwe, and because Uche enjoys his confidence and trust, he made Uche and AIG, his business partner, the trustee of his will”.
“Herbert died last year; he did not see his death coming and was not ready for it.
But he was prepared. Herbert was a meticulous man in his lifetime and so had a will and a family office to protect his kids regardless of their age and gender.
It is irrelevant that the only remaining heir is a female. As long as she is Herbert’s kid, acknowledged by him in his lifetime, she is entitled to enjoy the wealth made by her dad”.
“After his interment last year at Isiokpo, his extended family had a brainwave.
Since Herbert, our benefactor, is no more, we can’t allow the kids to enjoy this vast wealth alone. They’re too young to enjoy such a vast wealth, and besides, the oldest of the surviving kids is a 26-year-old, Tochi. Tochi is a woman, and in their thinking, too young to control what his late dad left behind. The rest of Tochi‘s surviving siblings are younger than her and they are in secondary schools”.
“The Herbert Wigwe family is accusing Tochi of living a champagne life, which they believe she is too young to enjoy. Tochi is living alone with the house servants in the palatial mansion on Queen Drive, Ikoyi, that her dad built, which he did not enjoy before he died. They also accused her of flying private jets and using the private jet that the dad left behind for her local travel. To regulate this extravagance and more, they are demanding 20% ownership of the estate (wealth) left behind by their late son. They also demand joint custody of the kids under the supervision of their 90-year-old dad”.
“When the family could not prevail on AIG and Uche Wigwe, the two trustees that are managing Herbert’s wealth, to dance to their tune, the case proceeded to the Lagos High Court last year. Just last week, the case was thrown out by the court for lack of merit. To the shock of many following the drama, the Wigwe family went to Appeal court to appeal this verdict by Lagos high court”.
“The biggest lesson to take home from this Wigwe soap opera is simple. Nobody knows when death will come, but as a rich man or woman living in Nigeria, put a proper structure in place to protect your family from the greed of your family who wants to reap where they did not sow. Write a will. Establish a family office to manage your wealth. Appoint trustworthy people you trust as trustees and enforcers of your will. This is the debt and the duty you owe your kids. And this is what Herbert has taught us and is the best exemplifier of this”.
