Shyngle Wigwe: the burden of a grandfather

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’’ – Prov. 13:22.

At over 90, this is not how Pastor Shyngle Wigwe had planned to spend the last few years of his long life. For the last 30 years, he’s been living a good life in a peaceful retirement, enjoying the support and benevolence of his industrious and wealthy second son, Herbert, and his other children.

But the tragic death of Herbert, together with his wife and son in a helicopter crash in California last year, has not only upended Pa Wigwe’s life in retirement, but has also set him on an embarrassing course of action.

By instituting a legal action against his granddaughter in a Lagos High Court and seeking unlimited access to the assets of the deceased son, Pa Wigwe is giving a wrong impression of himself. The optics just don’t look good, and the general comment out there is, “What could this old man be looking for at his age?”

The unfavourable judgement handed to him by the court should be enough reason for him to retrace his steps. In the suit filed by Pa Wigwe and Christian Wigwe as the claimants and Uche Wigwe, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and Otutochi Wigwe as defendants, the claimant sought the court to appoint Pa Wigwe, Otutochi Wigwe, and some companies as interim administrators for the son’s estate; appoint Pa Wigwe interim guardian to Herbert’s minor children; and order Access Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank, and United Securities to release the details of Herbert’s wealth to him.

The court, in its judgement delivered last week, turned down Pa Wigwe’s request, but in the court of public opinion, Nigerians are unanimous in querying the real intentions of the old man. Is Pa Wigwe being nudged on by his other children as is widely assumed? What are they up to?

The true intentions of Pa Wigwe could be gleaned from the claimants’ affidavit filed in court to support their case, which alleges that the will left behind by the deceased is only meant to administer the deceased’s property in Florida, USA, and has no application to the properties in Nigeria.

The affidavit also claimed that Aig-Imokhuede has “a strong influence on Uche Wigwe, who is the sole representative of the will,” and as the sole trustee as well as business partner of the deceased, Aig-Imokhuede “does not have the interest of the minors at heart, and his position will conflict with the deceased’s position.”

The affidavit further requests the court to appoint Pa Wigwe and some professional property managers to manage the estate of the deceased. In other words, Pa Wigwe is not only questioning the validity of his son’s will; he also wants to be in charge of the minor children and the estate of his deceased son. Clearly, this is too much responsibility for a 90-year-old man to ask for.

In their affidavit, the defendants stated that Otutochi had already been “granted legal guardianship of the minors of the estate in a family court and is representing them in this suit” and that she and Aig-Imoukhuede do not want to be joined as the interim administrator of the estate. The defendants further argued that since Pa Wigwe is the grandfather of the minor children, he does not need a court order to see the minors and provide moral counselling to them. He has the right to see them anytime without a court order. They added that Herbert left behind only one will, and that is applicable to all his properties at home and abroad.

It is notable that the Court had in its ruling dismissed all the reliefs sought by the claimants, meaning that Pa Wigwe and others have not been appointed interim administrators by the Court, and Access Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank, and United Securities have not been ordered to make any disclosures on Herbert’s wealth.

But there are a few lessons and questions to ponder. Why were Pa Wigwe and his children excluded from Herbert’s will? It’s probably because Herbert did not ever imagine that he would die before his aged parents and most likely that his relationships with his siblings were very frosty while he was alive. In fact, those who attended Herbert’s funeral service at the ballroom of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, last March were puzzled, if not embarrassed, at some of the nasty remarks made by some of the siblings about their deceased brother at the event.

Such an open display of bile, ill feeling, and ill will towards the dead from his siblings is not a natural occurrence; it’s all the more unnatural for the same set of people to turn around and jostle for the wealth of the dead man. But that’s morality. Legally speaking, Pa Wigwe and his children are not included in Herbert’s will, and they do not have any business going after whatever Herbert left behind. His will should be obeyed.

The Will made Uche Wigwe, the executioner of the Will and appointed Aig-Imoukhuede into a Trust that he should set up and chair; and this Trust would handle his affairs on behalf of his children. In the will, Aig-Imoukhuede was also appointed the legal custodian of the children, and this much he said at Herbert’s memorial service on Sunday, February 9. Even then, the trustee and the executioner have pledged to use their discretion and sense of compassion to accommodate Herbert’s father and the rest of the family in the scheme of things.

And herein lies the burden of Pa Wigwe at this very difficult moment of his last years on earth. He has lost his beloved son, grandson, and daughter-in-law in such a tragic circumstance. He should allow himself some peace of mind and space to bring the family together and bless the grandchildren. The number one duty of every grandparent is to gather the family together, bless the children and grandchildren, and prepare to go back to his Maker. By the way, the old man should also perfect his own will.  (BusinessDay)