The Lagos State High Court Probate Registry has issued an ultimatum to Christian Wigwe to explain his interest in the estate of his cousin, the late Herbert Wigwe, former group managing director and CEO of Access Bank.

Christian had lodged a caveat on behalf of Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the deceased, apparently to contest the distribution of the estate as specified in the will of the late banker.

A caveat serves as a formal written notice filed with the probate registry regarding the management of a deceased person’s estate. By filing this caveat, the caveator challenges the validity of the deceased’s will and aims to prevent the estate’s administration from proceeding without being notified. This action seeks to block the issuance of probate or letters of administration until the matter is resolved.

In a document dated 21 October, and seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the Lagos probate registry issued a legal notice giving the caveator, Christian, eight-day ultimatum upon service to explain his interest in the estate of late Herbert Wigwe.

“The Lagos State High Court Probate Registry setting forth what interest you have in the Estate of the above-named deceased, Late Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe of No. 11 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, contrary to the interest of the party at whose instance this warning is issued,” the notice reads.

Essentially, the notice urged Christian to respond and assert his interests in the estate of his deceased cousin and that if he fails to do so within the stipulated period, he risks losing the opportunity to contest the probate process.

“If you have no contrary interest but wish to show cause against the sealing of a grant to such a party to issue and serve a Summons for direction by the Registrar of the said registry.

“And take notice that in default of your so doing the Court may proceed to issue a grant of Probate or Administration in the said Estate notwithstanding your Caveat,” the probate legal notice read.

The notice was issued at the instance of Uchechukwu Wigwe, the appointed personal representative of the estate of the deceased by virtue of the deceased person’s will dated 9 July 2013.

The notice means that the deceased cousin will have to appear at the Court Probate Registry to explain this interest in his late cousin’s properties.

Background

Christian Wigwe, the deceased’s cousin, in an affidavit dated 7 October and filed at the Lagos State High Court Probate Registry, accused Herbert Wigwe’s partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede of assuming the role that belonged to the deceased’s father — Shyngle Wigwe.

Recently, there have been controversies within the Wigwefamily regarding the estate left behind by the deceased.

Several online platforms reported that Herbert’s father, Shyngle Wigwe, is at the centre of an alleged dispute regarding the distribution of his late son’s estate.

Christian reportedly filed a caveat at the probate registry to challenge the proposed distribution.

However, a statement signed by a member of the family, Emeka Wigwe, and made available to this newspaper, refuted the allegations, denying dispute over his late son’s property.

Furthermore, the statement described the reports as entirely “false and grossly misleading’’. It emphasised that the well-being and unity of his family have always been his top priorities.

It also said that neither he nor any member of his family has sought 20 per cent of his late son’s estate.

A group known as the Golden Organization for Accountability in Leadership and Development (GOLD) in Anambra State has stated that it will urge three of the state’s illustrious sons to establish specialized universities within the next year.
The three sons are Arthur Eze, Igwe Achebe, and Chukwuma Innoson, noting that these special universities will help accelerate the development of the state.
According to the group, its formation is aimed at leapfrogging the development of the state by monitoring the state government, especially the local government councils, which are the engine rooms for development.

Addressing journalists in Awka after a crucial meeting on Monday, the group’s Chairman, Comrade Anthony Ozo, said they had placed a premium on accountability as a key index for all levels of government and leadership in society, starting with Anambra State.

He said that GOLD’s aim is to create a conducive atmosphere for good governance.
Comrade Ozo explained that the objective of the group was to generate tangible progress in Anambra State, which had motivated them to propose the establishment of three universities in the state within the next year.
“We feel strongly that the Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group of Companies, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, who is doing well in the automobile industry in Africa and beyond, should be encouraged with our support to establish a university in his name.
“The proposed name is Innoson University of Technology.

“We also consider Sir Arthur Eze as one of those who have the capacity to establish a university in Anambra State, to be named Arthur Eze University of Management and Legal Studies, while the third one should be Igwe Alfred Achebe African University of Culture and International Studies.”
“We have various committees, including legal, education, contact and mobilization, membership and administration, women mobilization, and non-indigene committees. These committees are geared toward promoting and enforcing the beliefs and concepts of the organization.”

“We call on you (the media) because we cannot achieve these goals without the support of the media,” he said.
One of the conveners and pillars of the group, Chief Paul Nwosu, said the group would collaborate with the three individuals to ensure the proposed universities become operational within the next year.
According to him, they would also work in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) for possible approval and to ensure that the institutions take off as scheduled.
“God helping us, we must make these three universities functional and possibly start admitting students within the next year.

“You can even hold us accountable the way we want to hold governments accountable. We want to lead by example.
“We understand the mindset and thinking patterns of the personalities we’ve chosen to work with, and we know they will do anything that promotes Anambra State. By the time we have started the projects, in the next four to five years, the state will not be the same.
“Government is not maximizing the opportunities we have in Anambra. By the time we start implementing our proposals, it will begin to open the minds of future political leaders in the state,” Chief Nwosu added.

The Olubadan-in-Council has declared the planned inauguration of the Iyalode of Oyo State by a group of individuals as illegal.

The council made this known during its meeting presided over by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Owolabi Olakulehin, in Ibadan, the state capital on Monday.

The monarch, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gbenga Ayoade, noted that such a title is illegal.

The council also called for the arrest of any sponsors and beneficiaries of this “illegal act.”

The statement read, “Information brought to the attention of the Olubadan-in-council has it that some unscrupulous elements among the market leaders in the ancient city have perfected plans to install the Iyalode of Oyo state. Iyalode is a traditional title which is not a toy in the hands of any group of people.

“Such installation is illegal and unknown to the State Chiefs Law 2000 and the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration. The appointment of the Iyalode is an exclusive preserve of the people of the town under the leadership of their traditional ruler who is the consenting and prescribed authority.

“Each town or city has its own Iyalode, that position is a traditional title which is peculiar to each town. It is not an honourary title that can be dashed out to anyone. Are they saying that the Iyalode of Ibadanland, High Chief (Mrs) Theresa Laduntan Oyekanmi who waited for 42 years to become the Iyalode be answerable to an individual who was just handpicked from the street by a faceless group of people?