Herbert Wigwe’s Estate Battle Saga – Joyce Wigwe Accuses Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede of Deceit and Manipulation
The tragic helicopter accident death of former Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe has sparked a storm of controversy over his estate. His sister, Dr. Joyce Wigwe, has also expressed serious concerns regarding the handling of his will, alleging that his long-time partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has interfered with the will and hindered transparency in the legal process.
Aside from the controversy surrounding his estate, Joyce has also queried the manner in which Herbert died, indicating that there could have been foul play. During a exclusive interview with TV360, Joyce candidly recounted those moments which have left the Wigwe family in shock and torn apart. Joyce accused Aig-Imoukhuede of conspiring to manipulate the estate and shut out major members of the family out of the process, raising very serious questions regarding the legitimacy of the will.
“It later became clear that there had been ongoing discussions about Herbert’s will, but we were only informed in September that a will existed and was going to be read,” she explained. “However, my father was deliberately sent abroad by Aig Imoukhuede just before the reading.”
Joyce’s father, a 90 year old man undergoing medical care in Austria, was shocked when Aig-Imoukhuede purportedly sent him a surprising message that read, “We’re about to read the will.” Taken aback by the information, Joyce’s father phoned his son, Herbert’s younger brother Emeka Wigwe, who was also caught off guard.
When Emeka inquired as to why he and Joyce were not invited to the reading, he alleges he got no satisfactory responses from Aig-Imoukhuede. Emeka, suspecting that the exclusion was highly unusual, refused to go. Despite their protests, the will was read in their absence. When Joyce and her family were finally permitted to view the will, what they saw raised even more questions. “The will was only three pages long, an extremely unusual length for an estate of this magnitude,” Joyce explained. It did mention a trust but not assets of any trust, no breakdown was given of the beneficiaries in detail, and no documents were appended in support.
Things only got more confusing when Joyce found out the critical information – there was an 18 page version of the will that was filed in Florida, but only the three-page version was filed in Nigeria. “Why wasn’t the full document filed in Nigeria?” Joyce wondered. Further investigation revealed that there had been a legal settlement in Florida, in which Betty Blanco, who had initially been named as the personal representative, was paid millions of dollars to stand down.
This payment was not revealed to Joyce or the family. More troubling, though, was that when the document was subsequently filed in Nigeria, Blanco’s name had somehow been taken off, and their cousin, Uche Wigwe, had been inserted as the new personal representative. Joyce was worried that it had been accomplished without disclosing it to the family.
“We also discovered that the document had been filed for probate in Lagos, raising further concerns about its authenticity and completeness. It became clear that there was an attempt to manipulate the estate process without proper disclosure to the entire family, Joyce said.
Adding more fuel to the fire, Joyce pointed out a significant failure in the handling of her brother’s death. Herbert Wigwe unfortunately died in a helicopter crash in the United States on February 9, 2024. The accident also claimed the life of his wife, Chizoba, son Chizi, and business partner Abimbola Ogunbanjo close to Halloran Springs, California. Joyce suspects the situation leading to the crash might not have been as simple as originally indicated.
“We also cannot ignore how all of this started. Herbert was not a major Super Bowl fan—he was more of a polo fan. What exactly made him take that trip? Who organized it? Why was a company that had previously been deemed negligent chosen for the travel arrangements?” Joyce explained.
She noted that Aig-Imoukhuede was to arrange the trip and now is demanding to know why a company with a record of safety problems was chosen for such an important trip. The issue that has raised the most controversy is the care of Herbert Wigwe’s daughter, Tochi. Joyce has lamented in disbelief at the ruling to allow a 25 year old to take control of her brother’s extensive estate, contending that such a role requires legal and financial acumen well beyond Tochi’s years. “Tochi had to seek permission to even talk to family members,” Joyce disclosed.
Watch full interview on youtube:
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Why would Aig-Imoukhuede, if he had their best interests at heart, deny them the advantage of the best advice and assistance?
Public response to Joyce’s disclosure has been swift and in numbers. Social media users have sided with the Wigwe family and, more so, Joyce and are outraged at the purported marginalization of close family members from important decisions.
One of them, @judeumeh5390, wrote, “This woman and her parents are absolutely right. The family is more than capable of handling this situation better than any friend or outsider. This is purely a family matter, and as Herbert’s father, his rights should be respected. No one knows if he has been offering guidance all along, but it seems the advice is being ignored. Unfortunately, many wolves disguise themselves as sheep, and only time will reveal their true nature. Friends can betray even when someone is alive—what more when they are gone? Transparency is needed in this case.”
Dr. Joyce Wigwe’s demand for transparency has also been backed by influential voices, such as @drtrishmd, who commended her for speaking out. “Thank you for shedding light on this issue. It has been a truly difficult experience, but Dr. Joyce has handled herself remarkably well. She is asking the right questions and should naturally be on the same side as her niece. However, the other side has strategically turned her into a pawn. May truth prevail,” @drtrishmd said.
To read more comments: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGob_NIAPjN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Although Joyce and her family had initially requested that legal proceedings involving Herbert’s estate not be publicized to save the children from the spotlight of publicity, their request was disregarded, and the matter is now very public.
Amidst all the tension, Joyce insists that the family does not wish to take anything from Tochi but only desires to have openness and understanding regarding how Herbert’s enormous wealth is to be managed. “Considering the size of Herbert Wigwe’s estate and the financial intricacies involved, a more organized and enlightened process must be adopted to safeguard the best interest of his children,” Joyce once again said, hoping for her niece’s future.
As the saga of Herbert Wigwe’s legacy unfolds, one thing is certain, the fight for transparency, justice, and accountability is far from ending. Joyce’s quest for the truth, amid opposition, has only just begun. The public is watching anxiously, waiting for answers to the questions that continue to shroud the late banking tycoon’s wealth and the mysterious circumstances of his death.
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