OWERRI, Nigeria — A year after the passing of Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, details of his final Will have surfaced—prompting public and legal debate over a clause that conditions his widow’s inheritance on her remaining unmarried.
According to Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, the appointed administrator of the estate, the Will explicitly states that Lolo Frances Iwuanyanwu, the late businessman’s widow, will forfeit all assets bequeathed to her should she choose to remarry.
The assets in question include the family’s flagship residence in Owerri, Imo State, known as Legacy House, as well as a successful furniture business previously owned by Iwuanyanwu’s first wife.
Lolo Frances also inherited shares in several landed properties located across prime locations in Owerri.
The late business mogul, who held the title of President General Worldwide of Ohanaeze Ndigbo until his death, is believed to have drafted the Will with meticulous detail.
His estate spans multiple properties and business interests in Nigeria and abroad.
Among other notable provisions, Iwuanyanwu’s first son, Jide, is to inherit the family’s official residence in Abuja.
The Will also directs that the family’s London home be sold, with the proceeds allocated primarily to the education of his youngest son.
Portions of the sale are also to be distributed to Jide and the family’s daughter, Ezinne—currently residing in the London home—to support her relocation.
In a gesture towards public service, the Will designates another prominent asset, the Glass House near the Orji flyover in Owerri, for charitable use.
The property is to be held in public trust and managed by a board, continuing Iwuanyanwu’s philanthropic legacy.
Properties located in Abuja, Imo State, and other regions were apportioned among the mogul’s five children.
According to Ekomaru, all beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the execution of the Will and have agreed to its terms.
However, at least 15 properties reportedly owned by Iwuanyanwu were not listed in the final Will.
Family sources attributed the omissions to his declining health in the months preceding his death.
The clause restricting the widow from remarrying has generated significant discourse, particularly online and within legal circles.
Critics have questioned the morality and enforceability of such conditions in modern inheritance frameworks, while others have defended it as within the rights of a testator to place conditions on bequests.
Legal analysts say the clause, though uncommon, may not be automatically void in Nigerian courts unless challenged on grounds of public policy or fundamental rights.
“The courts typically respect the wishes of the deceased as expressed in a Will,” one Lagos-based legal expert revealed.
“However, conditions that restrict personal freedom—such as remarriage—can be legally contested, especially if they are deemed unreasonable or discriminatory.”
