Executors of the last will and testament of late president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have denied reports that the respected businessman included a clause in his will barring his wife, Frances Iwuanyanwu, from remarrying.
In a statement released on Monday, the executors described the claim as “entirely false” and aimed at tarnishing the memory and legacy of the elder statesman.
“We want to state, unequivocally and for the records, that this claim is entirely false and targeted at bringing the name of our revered departed statesman to disrepute and degrade his generational legacies,” the statement read.
They emphasised that nowhere in the will was Frances restricted from remarrying. “Such an assertion is not only factually incorrect but also deeply disrespectful to his memory and the legacy of love, dignity, and truth which he lived and died for,” they said.
Signed by Rev Emmanuel Maduwike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Lemmy Akakem and Bon Unachukwu, the statement said the viral reports had no proof or connection to actual facts.
“We have observed with understandable dismay the circulation of false and misleading reports in the media… suggesting that Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu included in his Will a restriction barring Chief (Mrs.) Frances Iwuanyanwu from remarrying among other unfounded narratives.”
The executors also faulted what they described as “speculation, half-truths, and tone-deaf commentary,” and urged the public to respect the mourning period of the family.
“It is both painful and unfortunate that during this period of mourning, when the family of our revered, departed statesman should be allowed peace and privacy, some individuals have chosen to exploit their grief by peddling sensationalism and distortion for cheap publicity,” they said.
They further explained that the will was a private document prepared with “care, love, and deep thoughtfulness” not only for the family but for causes close to the late Iwuanyanwu’s heart.
“Our revered departed statesman was a man of great Christian faith, filled with compassion, honour, and integrity… His legacy of philanthropy, deeply rooted in his Christian values, was never for public display but for the service of God and humanity.”
The executors pledged to preserve his legacy through the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Foundation and ensure that his young son is raised in the values he stood for.
The clarification follows widespread reports that the late Iwuanyanwu, who died in July 2024, allegedly included a controversial clause in his will stating that his widow would forfeit her inheritance, including the Legacy House in Owerri and business assets like Magil Furniture if she chose to remarry.
The claim, which trended across blogs and social media platforms, sparked public outrage, with many criticising the supposed condition as patriarchal and unjust.
Some reports claimed the will barred her from selling or transferring certain properties and would “automatically forfeit all these inheritances” upon remarriage. But the executors have now made it clear that such claims are false and not contained in the will.
