Pastor Shyngle Wiwe, 90, and Chukwuka Wigwe have filed a petition in court seeking the appointment of an administrator to oversee the estate of Herbert Wigwe. The defendants in this case include Uche Wigwe, Aigboje AIG Imoukhiede, and Miss Otutochi Channel Wigwe, Herbert Wigwe’s 26-year-old daughter. An estate administrator is appointed by the court to manage the estate of a deceased individual who did not leave behind a will or when there are disputes regarding the will. The case is being heard by Justice A.O. Adeyemi at the Lagos State High Court.
In October 2024, reports emerged suggesting that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe’s family had a hidden interest in the inheritance of the late banker’s children and allegedly attempted to disinherit them by modifying Herbert Wigwe’s will, claims that the family has strongly denied. Following this, a caveat disputing the late banker’s will was filed online by Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who claims to be a cousin of the deceased, on behalf of Pastor Shyngle Wigwe.
During the proceedings, the claimants’ attorney requested that the case be heard in private, due to the involvement of minor children and the need for confidentiality as stipulated by section 128 of the Child Rights Law, 2007. However, the defendants—including Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chris Wigwe, and Otutochi Wigwe, represented by Paul Usoro SAN—objected, leading the court to conduct the hearings publicly. Although the proceedings were handled discreetly, the extensive media coverage of the ruling has raised concerns, especially regarding its effect on the elderly parents and minor children involved. Counsel for the claimants, A. O. Eghobamien SAN, expressed disappointment over the unanticipated media scrutiny, believing it has heightened tensions.
On February 6, 2025, Justice A.O. Adeyemi denied the application from Christian Wigwe and Pastor Shyngle Wigwe for the appointment of interim administrators while the substantive case was still underway. The court determined that the reliefs sought were too similar to those in the main case. A related lawsuit, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe v. Independent Newspaper Ltd. (ID/12372/GCMW/2024), has been filed, seeking an injunction against further media reports following allegations that Pastor Wigwe sought a 20% share of the inheritance.
Following the unfavorable ruling from the Lagos State High Court, Pastor Wigwe and others have decided to appeal the decision. The appellants contend that the court did not adequately differentiate between interim reliefs—intended to preserve the estate and support dependents—and final reliefs that determine asset distribution. They reference Section 24 of the Administration of Estate Law of Lagos State, 2015, which authorizes courts to appoint interim administrators when necessary. Furthermore, they challenge the reliance on a previous ex parte guardianship order, arguing that it excluded the children’s grandparents without prior notification. They assert that their request was merely to add them as co-guardians, rather than to overturn the existing order.
The claimants also contest the denial of a Norwich Pharmacal order, which would have compelled financial institutions, including Access Bank and another entity, to disclose Herbert Wigwe’s financial holdings. They argue that, with probate still pending, certain assets remain unaccounted for and under the control of the defendants without adequate transparency.
