The family dispute over the estate of the late Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, former Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank, has escalated to the Court of Appeal. This follows a Lagos High Court ruling on February 6, 2025, by Justice Olayinka Adeyemi, which denied interim reliefs sought by Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, Herbert’s 90-year-old father, and cousin Christian Wigwe.
The appellants challenged the court’s refusal to appoint interim administrators and guardians for the estate, as well as its denial of a Norwich Pharmacal Order to obtain information on the estate’s management. Justice Adeyemi ruled that such applications should not preempt the full trial process, referencing legal precedents that prevent courts from deciding substantive issues at the interlocutory stage.
Central to the dispute is the validity of Herbert Wigwe’s will, executed outside Nigeria, which names his wife, Doreen Wigwe, cousin Uche Wigwe, and business associate Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as personal representatives and trustees. The claimants allege mismanagement of the estate and seek a 20% allocation to family members, contrary to the will’s stipulations favoring his children.
The case underscores the complexities of Nigerian inheritance laws, particularly regarding wills executed abroad. Under the Wills Law of Lagos State 2004, a valid will must be in writing, signed by the testator in the presence of at least two witnesses, and made voluntarily by a person of sound mind.
As the legal battle progresses, the family remains divided. Herbert’s elder sister, Joyce Wigwe, has publicly addressed the tensions, emphasizing the need for amicable resolution and expressing concerns over access to her late brother’s children.
This high-profile case highlights the importance of clear estate planning and adherence to legal protocols to prevent protracted disputes. It also serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in upholding the integrity of wills and the structured hierarchy of inheritance in Nigerian law.
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