Will: Anambra Widow, Executors On Warpath

Wife of a Second Republic Anambra State legislator, Mrs Chinelo Nwobu-Alor, has accused executors of her late husband’s Will of denying her access to her husband’s funds to enable her take proper care of herself and the children and property left by her husband.

She told LEADERSHIP Weekend that her late husband, Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, left a Will wherein he listed former governor, Mr. Peter Obi, Senator Uche Ekwunife and his (late husband’s lawyer), Chief Obi Okafor as executors of his Will, saying because Obi was very busy with national politics, he authorised his brother, Rev Father Fabian Obi, to represent him.

She alleged that her husband willed N45m to her if he passed on, if she remained in his house after his demise, but that if she left for her biological home, she should be given N5m annually from the N45m at the beginning of every year.

She, however, lamented that the executors had rather been giving her N5m annually, instead of releasing to her the N45m at once as her husband authorised.

She further said though the executors had been giving her N5 million annually, the money was not given to her at the beginning of the year but sometimes in the fifth month.

She further accused one of her husband’s brothers (name withheld) of trying to eject her and her children from part of her husband’s house to take over the apartment, saying her husband allegedly gave him part of the main building called traditionally as “Obu” in Igbo language.

She also accused the executors of managing her husband’s foundation without getting her involved.

“I know that my husband left millions of naira in different commercial banks, but, those he entrusted with the execution of his Will have not been taking care of me, and my children. Instead, they are taking care of themselves with the money.

Peter Obi’s media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, confirmed that his boss nominated his brother-priest, Rev Fr. Fabian Obi, to replace him as an executor of the Will because of his tight schedules, especially his involvement in national politics.

Obienyem said contrary to the widow’s claim that it was provided that she should be given N45m if she accepted to stay after her husband passed on, what the Will says was that N45m  be given to her at N5m annually at the beginning of every year, but that she loses all her entitlements if she leaves after her husband died.

Obienyem also explained that the Will further contained that if she leaves for her biological home after the demise of her husband and with their children, she should still be given the N5m annually, but that if she however leaves the children behind, the N5m from the N45m should be used to take care of the children annually.

Fr. Fabian Obi declined to respond to any of the widow’s claims.

When contacted, the late lawmaker’s lawyer and one of the executors, Barrister Obi Okoye, said the window had been making bogus financial demands and maligning members of the team.

“We have implemented the Will, and we have given everyone what was provided for the person in it,” the lawyer said.

He said the widow initially demanded N15 million to re-roof her house and as they were considering the amount too much for just re-roofing, she again demanded N55. 7 million saying she wanted to re-roof the whole house and do other things in the house.

“I said where would such amount of money come from? Remember that Nwobu-Alor had a foundation which he said in the Will that it should be run,” Okoye said.

He said he advised the widow to go and apply to the court for any money she wanted and promised her that any approval by court would be given to her.

“We don’t want to spend any money not contained in the Will except that approved by the court so that tomorrow nobody would accuse us of any fraud. And I have assured her that I will not oppose any application she files in the court,” he stated.