Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and their son tragically died in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, at a border town between California, USA.
Lagos, Nigeria – Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, has refuted claims that he is involved in a family dispute over his son’s property.
This comes in response to reports from an online publication (not REPORT AFRIQUE) that alleged the Wigwe family had filed a caveat at the Probate Registry, challenging the distribution of Herbert’s estate as outlined in his will.
The report suggested that Pastor Shyngle, alongside Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, who claimed to be Herbert’s cousin, filed legal documents to alter the deceased’s directives regarding his estate. It was alleged that Pastor Shyngle requested that 20% of Herbert’s estate be allocated to him and other family members, contrary to the provisions of the will, which reportedly left the entirety of the estate to Herbert’s children.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Emeka Wigwe on behalf of the family, Pastor Shyngle denied the allegations, calling the reports false and misleading. The statement clarified that at no time had Pastor Shyngle or any other family members requested a share of 20% from Herbert’s estate.
“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,” the statement read. “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.”
The family emphasized that the details of Herbert Wigwe’s estate are publicly available at the Probate Registry and urged the publication to correct the inaccuracies, adding that a simple fact-checking process would have clarified the matter.
“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,” the statement continued.
Pastor Shyngle also highlighted Herbert’s legacy as a visionary banker who transformed Access Bank into a leading financial institution in Nigeria, as well as his philanthropic efforts through The HOW Foundation, which focused on education and healthcare.
Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and their son tragically died in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, at a border town between California, USA.
The crash also claimed the life of Abimola Ogunbanjo, a former group chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
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