Controversies surrounding the estate of former Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, has taken a new turn as his sister, Dr Joyce Wigw
Controversies surrounding the estate of former Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, has taken a new turn as his sister, Dr Joyce Wigwe, has publicly accused his longtime associate, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, of attempting to manipulate Herbert’s will and obstruct transparency in the legal proceedings.
Joyce also raised suspicions of foul play regarding the circumstances leading to her brother’s tragic plane crash.
Earlier reports suggested that Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the father of the late Herbert Wigwe, had become embroiled in a legal battle over a share of his son’s estate.
It was alleged that he had filed a caveat at the Probate Registry, seeking to challenge the distribution of Herbert’s wealth, which had been exclusively designated for his children.
However, Joyce strongly refuted these claims, stating that her father’s priority has always been to ensure fairness and transparency in handling Herbert’s estate.
Joyce detailed what she described as questionable actions by Aig-Imoukhuede in the handling of her brother’s estate, including an alleged lack of transparency in the reading of the will, unexplained discrepancies in legal filings, and undue influence over key family members.
She claimed that the reading of Herbert’s will was conducted under dubious circumstances, with key family members deliberately excluded. Aside concerns over the will, Joyce raised questions about the events leading up to Herbert’s untimely death in a helicopter crash in the US earlier this year.
“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?”
According to Joyce, Aig-Imoukhuede was responsible for organizing the trip. She demanded to know why a company with a history of safety concerns had been selected, hinting at potential negligence or undisclosed motives.
“We understand that Aig Imoukhuede was responsible for organizing the trip. Why did he select a company that had already been flagged for negligence?”
Regarding the will, Joyce said their 90-year-old father, who was receiving medical treatment in Austria, was caught off guard when he received a message from Aig-Imoukhuede stating, “We’re about to read the will.”
The news came as a shock, as no other family member had been informed of the will’s existence before that moment. She alleged that her father, already in a vulnerable state, immediately contacted Herbert’s younger brother, Emeka, who questioned Aig-Imoukhuede about why he and Joyce had been excluded from the reading, he received no clear response.
After finally obtaining a copy of the will through legal means, Joyce said the family was alarmed by numerous irregularities.
“The will was only three pages long—an extremely unusual length for an estate of this magnitude. It referenced a trust but failed to list any trust assets. There was no detailed breakdown of beneficiaries, and no supporting documents were attached,” she said.
Another troubling discovery was the existence of an 18-page version of the will filed in Florida, while only a three-page version had been submitted in Nigeria.
“Why wasn’t the full document filed in Nigeria?” Joyce questioned.
Further investigations revealed that a legal settlement had taken place in Florida, where Betty Blanco—originally named as a personal representative—was paid millions of dollars to step aside.
The family, she said, had not been informed of this payout. When the document was later filed in Nigeria, Blanco’s name was removed, and another individual, Uche Wigwe, their cousin, was next in line instead.
“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.
“Upon checking the records, we found that the will was dated sometime in 2013. To determine whether it had been officially lodged, we visited the Florida court. If Herbert had intended for the will to have general applicability, especially since his primary domicile was in Nigeria, he would have filed it in Lagos. However, it wasn’t lodged there.”
One of the most contentious aspects of the dispute is the guardianship of Herbert Wigwe’s daughter, Tochi. Joyce expressed deep concerns about the decision to entrust the management of the estate to a 25-year-old, arguing that such a role requires significant legal and financial expertise.
Joyce further stated that Tochi needed permission to even speak to family members and asked why Aig-Imoukhuede, if he genuinely cared about the children, would prevent them from receiving the best possible advice and support.
The family initially requested that legal proceedings surrounding the estate remain private to protect the children from public scrutiny. However, their request was denied, with the opposing party insisting on making the proceedings public.
Joyce insists that the family is not trying to take anything from Tochi but merely wants transparency and accountability. She argues that, given the scale of Herbert’s estate and the financial complexities involved, a more structured and informed approach is necessary to protect the best interests of his children.
In light of these unfolding events, Aig-Imoukhuede is yet to release an official statement addressing the allegations.
Herbert tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, at the age of 57. The fatal accident occurred near Halloran Springs, California, killing him, his wife, Chizoba, their son, Chizi, and business associate, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX).
The helicopter, identified as an Airbus EC130, was en route from Palm Springs, California, to Boulder City, Nevada, when it crashed under mysterious circumstances.
