Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings Limited, Herbert Wigwe, has vehemently punctured a viral report that he was fighting over his late son’s estate.
An online publication (not The Crest) had reported that Wigwe’s parents had filed a caveat at the Probate Registry, seeking to challenge the distribution of their son’s estate as enunciated in his will.
The caveat was reportedly filed under the direction of Pastor Shyngle, and supported by an affidavit from Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who purports 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.
But the senior Wigwe rubbished such insinuation, stating categorically that at no time did he request 20 per cent of the estate of his late son.
The rebuttal, issued on Tuesday, and signed by one Emeka Wigwe on behalf of the family, punctured the claims made in the online publication, saying:
“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.”
Pastor Shyngle Wigwe appealed to the online 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,” the statement said, “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.”
It will be recalled that 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.
Abimola Ogunbanjo, a former group chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, also perished in the tragic crash.