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Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the late Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe has denied the reports making the rounds that he was fighting over his late son’s property.
An online publication (not from The PUNCH) had indicted Wigwe’s parents of filing a caveat at the Probate Registry, seeking to challenge the distribution of his estate as outlined in his will.
The caveat was reportedly filed under the direction of Pastor Shyngle, and supported by an affidavit from Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who claims to be Herbert’s cousin.
This legal manoeuvre was directed at altering the directives set forth by the deceased regarding the administration of his estate.
The report also added that the father allegedly requested that 20 per cent of Herbert’s estate be allotted to him and other family members, a desire that contradicts Herbert’s will, which stipulates that his wealth be distributed solely among his children. The will was lodged at the Ikeja Probate Court prior to Herbert’s untimely passing.
However, the father in a statement signed by one Emeka Wigwe for the family on Tuesday, the father refuted the claims made in the report stressing that at no point had he requested 20 per cent of the estate of his late son.
It read, “We, the family of Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, wish to address a recent article titled ‘Family Dispute Erupts Over Estate of Late Banking Executive Herbert Wigwe’ published on October 13, 2024.
“This article has unfortunately spread widely across social and national media. While we recognize the role of the press in sharing news, it is vital that such reports are based on truth and accuracy.
“To clarify, at no point has Pastor Shyngle Wigwe requested 20 per cent of the estate of the late Herbert Wigwe. Neither has there been any such request by other family members. The article’s claim that this demand contradicts Herbert’s will is entirely false and misleading. The facts regarding the estate are already publicly available in the Probate Registry, where an affidavit clearly outlines the correct details. A simple search by your reporters would have revealed this truth,” the statement said,
The father further urged the platform to correct the inaccuracies in the report and to exercise greater diligence in fact-checking future stories.
“During this painful time of grief, our family remains united, focusing on healing and growing stronger together. We have no intention of engaging in a public defense because there are no sides to take. The only truth is that we are navigating this immense loss and will continue to do so with dignity.
“Herbert Wigwe’s legacy as a visionary banker and entrepreneur is what should be remembered. He transformed Access Bank into a national leader and devoted himself to empowering others through initiatives like The HOW Foundation, which focused on education and healthcare. These are the values that define his life and should be the focus, rather than unfounded speculation,” the statement added.
Wigwe died along with his wife, Chizoba, and son when an Airbus Helicopter EC130B4 they were travelling in crashed at a border town between California, United States of America on February 9, 2024.
The crash also claimed the lives of a former group chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Abimola Ogunbanjo.
