Joyce Shyngle-Wigwe Opens Up on Legal Battle Over Herbert Wigwe’s Estate and Rift with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
Joyce Wigwe, elder sister of the late Herbert Wigwe, has shed light on the circumstances that led to the court case over the administration of her brother’s estate and access to his children. In an interview with TV360 Exclusive, she clarified that the family’s legal battle was not against Herbert’s children but rather against his close friend and business associate, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Following Herbert Wigwe’s tragic passing in February 2024, tensions arose over the management of his estate. In November 2024, Herbert’s father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, and cousin, Christian Chukwuka Wigwe, filed a motion requesting the appointment of interim administrators for the estate. Their petition cited concerns about potential mismanagement and sought oversight of the guardianship of Herbert’s minor children. However, in February 2025, the Lagos State High Court dismissed their application, ruling that they lacked the legal standing to intervene as they were not direct beneficiaries under Herbert’s will. The court upheld the document, which named Herbert’s cousin, Uche Wigwe, and his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, as trustees and personal representatives of the estate. The ruling also affirmed the existing guardianship arrangements for Herbert’s minor children, reinforcing the need to respect the late banker’s final wishes.
Joyce explained that the family initially had no reason to doubt Herbert’s close friends, as they had long been welcomed as part of the Wigwe household. She noted that their father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, had always embraced Herbert’s friends and their families, including Aig-Imoukhuede’s, and trusted them deeply. However, tensions became evident during Herbert’s funeral, where Joyce alleged that Aigboje and his wife actively prevented the Wigwe family from getting close to the children. She recalled that at the funeral, Aigboje and his wife flanked the children, making it difficult for their relatives to interact with them. Even seating arrangements were allegedly controlled by Access Bank staff, who followed directives from higher authorities.
Following the funeral, Joyce claimed that Aig-Imoukhuede held a series of private meetings with her father, always accompanied by his lawyer, and without allowing other family members to be present. She expressed concern over the secrecy of these meetings, particularly as she herself is a lawyer and could have been involved in discussions regarding the estate. According to Joyce, during these meetings, Aig-Imoukhuede repeatedly asked their father to sign documents related to Herbert’s estate. Her niece, Herbert’s daughter, Tochi, had expressed a desire to work alongside her grandfather in managing the estate, but the legal representative handling the matter, identified as Pairo, allegedly refused to leave copies of any signed documents with the family. Each time they requested access to these papers, they were met with excuses, further fueling their suspicions.
Joyce emphasized that despite these legal disputes, the family has maintained a close relationship with Herbert’s children. She shared that her last conversation with her niece was to advise her to keep copies of any legal documents she signed, to which Tochi assured her that she would. However, Joyce suggested that unexpected developments have since occurred that altered the situation. She clarified that the family’s grievances were not directed at Herbert’s children but rather at Aig-Imoukhuede. She alleged that he stopped providing financial support to their father, claiming he believed the elder Wigwe was using the monthly stipend to fund legal action against him.
This financial dispute led the family to take legal steps, arguing that Herbert’s estate should continue supporting his parents as he did when he was alive. They filed an interim application in court to gain clarity on Herbert’s financial interests, including his stake in Access Bank, his life insurance policies, and other assets. Joyce reiterated that the Wigwe family has always been deeply connected, citing how they all traveled to celebrate Herbert’s first son, Chizi, at his university graduation—an example of the family’s closeness and Herbert’s strong emphasis on familial bonds.
Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, and their 29-year-old son Chizi tragically lost their lives on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash near Nipton, California. The family was en route from Palm Springs International Airport to Boulder City, Nevada, to attend Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The crash also claimed the lives of former Nigerian Exchange Group Plc Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo and two crew members.
Watch Joyce Wigwe address the feud in the video below.
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