The Lagos State High Court Family/Probate Division has dismissed an application by Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late Herbert Wigwe, and his cousin, Christian Wigwe, seeking the appointment of interim administrators for the deceased’s estate.
Justice Adeyinka Adeyemi, in a ruling delivered on February 6, 2025, resolved all issues against the applicants, describing their claims as unsustainable.
The claimants filed suit number ID/7735FPM/2024, naming Access Bank Plc, Coronation Merchant Bank Ltd, and United Securities Ltd as defendants. Also listed were Uche Wigwe, Aigboje AIG. Imoukhuede and Wigwe’s daughter Otutochi Channel Wigwe.
The applicants sought the appointment of Otutochi Wigwe, Uche Wigwe, Shyngle Wigwe, and two professionals—Zedra Trust Company (Isle of Man) and Pricewaterhouse Coopers Limited—as interim administrators of the estate. Additionally, they requested joint guardianship of Wigwe’s minor children, Chituru David Wigwe, Wegu Hannah Wigwe, and Okachi Great Wigwe, with Pastor Wigwe overseeing their welfare.
They further asked for full financial disclosure from the banks regarding the deceased’s holdings and an order allowing the interim administrators to manage the estate’s affairs until the resolution of the substantive suit.
Justice Adeyemi held that the claims for interim reliefs were essentially identical to the substantive matters before the court and could not be decided at the interlocutory stage.
“The court finds that the applications for the appointment of interim administrators and guardians are essentially the same as those in the substantive matter and, therefore, cannot be considered at this stage,” she ruled.
The court also referenced an existing judgment appointing Otutochi Wigwe as the legal guardian of the minor children and stated that no appeal had been filed against that decision.
Dismissing the application as unsustainable, the judge emphasized that the court had already granted accelerated hearing in the substantive case to address the sensitive issues promptly.
Following the ruling, the claimants filed a notice of appeal on February 13. They argued that the High Court failed to differentiate between interim reliefs, intended to preserve the estate, and final reliefs regarding asset distribution.
The appellants also challenged a prior ex parte guardianship order, claiming it excluded the children’s grandparents without proper notice. They insisted that their application aimed to include them as co-guardians rather than overturn the existing arrangement.
Additionally, they appealed the denial of a Norwich Pharmacal order that would have compelled financial institutions to disclose details of Herbert Wigwe’s financial assets, citing concerns over transparency and accountability.
