The Lagos State High Court Probate Registry has given Christian Wigwe an ultimatum 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 estate’s distribution as specified in the late banker’s will.
A caveat is a formal written notice filed with the probate registry, challenging the validity of a deceased person’s will to halt estate administration until the matter is resolved. By filing the caveat, Christian aims to prevent the estate’s administration from proceeding without notification.
In a document dated 21 October, the Lagos probate registry issued a legal notice, giving the caveator, Christian, an eight-day ultimatum upon service to explain his interest in the estate of the 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.
The notice calls on Christian to respond and assert his interest in the estate of his deceased cousin. If he fails to respond within the given timeframe, 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 under the deceased’s will dated 9 July 2013.
This requires Christian to appear at the Court Probate Registry to explain his interest in his late cousin’s estate.
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 a role meant for the deceased’s father, Shyngle Wigwe.
There have been recent controversies within the Wigwe family regarding the deceased’s estate.
Reports on several online platforms indicated that Herbert’s father, Shyngle Wigwe, is allegedly at the center of a dispute over the distribution of his late son’s estate.
Christian reportedly filed a caveat to challenge the proposed distribution.
However, a statement signed by a family member, Emeka Wigwe, refuted these allegations, calling the reports “false and grossly misleading.” The statement emphasized the well-being and unity of the family and stated that no family member had sought 20 percent of the deceased’s estate.
