Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, the nonagenarian father of the late Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, has refuted claims suggesting a family rift over his son’s estate. Speaking during an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the 90-year-old cleric of the Redeemed Christian Church of God described the circulating reports as unfounded and painful distortions of his intentions toward his late son’s legacy and grandchildren.
Rejecting insinuations of greed, Mr. Wigwe made it clear that his concerns lie not in material gain but in the protection of his son’s heritage.
“How did I want to claim Herbert’s property? Who is the best person to defend Herbert’s property, the father or a friend? The father, 90 years,” he said, firmly distancing himself from rumors of conflict.
Drawing from his long life experience, the elder Wigwe emphasized that his priority remains the stability and unity of the family Herbert left behind. “My grandchildren are there. How many days have I got to live? So what will I do with Herbert’s property?” he asked, a rhetorical question that carried the weight of both grief and resignation.
In the same interview, Pastor Wigwe took a reflective turn, revisiting the early years of raising Herbert, a journey he described as one marked by personal sacrifice and devotion. “I trained Herbert and I brought him up. Not a single penny from anyone went into bringing him up,” he said, countering any suggestion that his motives were financially driven.
The patriarch recounted how, despite economic challenges, he ensured his son’s education and upbringing were supported solely through his own efforts.
He also shared a touching memory from Herbert’s infancy, recalling the fragile beginnings of a life that would later rise to prominence. “Herbert was born with rashes all over his body; because of the situation, the mother ran away from Island Maternity with a boy who was about just two days old. We had not done operation for him, she nursed Herbert all through,” he narrated.
As he spoke, the pastor’s tone suggested not defensiveness, but a quiet need to set the record straight. “What will I do with Herbert’s wealth?” he concluded, dismissing all speculation about personal interest in his son’s estate.
He reaffirmed that his only desire is to preserve Herbert’s legacy and ensure his grandchildren are guided and protected as the next custodians of the Wigwe name.
The loss of Herbert Wigwe in February 2024, alongside his wife, Chizoba, and their son, Chizi, in a helicopter crash near the California–Nevada border, sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s corporate and religious circles. In the aftermath, social media was awash with reports alleging legal disputes over the late banker’s assets, suggesting tensions within the Wigwe family.
In a separate clarification earlier in the year, Herbert’s elder sister, Joyce Wigwe, also dispelled the notion of a family feud. Speaking on TV360, she explained that their father never filed any case against Herbert’s daughter, Tochi.
“My father would never fight his child. If you look at our pleadings, we requested that Grandpa want to work alongside his granddaughter to nurture and raise the younger ones. It was never against Tochi, it was about working with her,” she said.
Joyce further clarified that the legal process was merely a procedural move to formalize a guardianship arrangement aimed at securing the welfare of the younger siblings.
