Iwuanyanwu’s Will: Re-marry clause sparks public debate

DDM NEWS

Late Chief Iwuanyanwu and wife

The Will of late elder statesman and former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Chief (Engr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has stirred public conversation, chiefly due to a contentious clause that bars his widow, Lolo Frances Iwuanyanwu, from retaining any inheritance if she remarries.

Unveiled on June 16, 2025, by Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), the legal custodian of the Will, the document meticulously distributes the late business mogul’s estate among his children, wife, and key dependents.

Notably, Frances was granted the family’s iconic “Legacy House” located on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, under a condition that the property must never be sold.

She also inherited Magil Furniture—originally established by Iwuanyanwu’s first wife—as well as stakes in several real estate properties in Imo State, including Orji, Works Layout, and Naze.

However, the Will clearly stipulates that any future marriage by Frances would result in an automatic loss of these assets.

Among other allocations, the family’s Abuja residence is willed to their son, while their London property is to be sold, with proceeds split: 60% earmarked for the youngest child’s education, 30% for the eldest son, Jide, and 10% for a relative, Ezinne, currently living in the property to assist in securing alternative accommodation.

In a charitable move, Iwuanyanwu directed that the “Glass House” near Orji flyover be converted into a public trust managed by an independent board, dedicated to supporting community and humanitarian causes.

Five of his children received significant shares of properties and assets spread across Imo, Abuja, and other parts of Nigeria.

Family sources also revealed that about 15 properties remain unassigned in the Will—possibly due to the Chief’s failing health in his final days.

These assets are now the subject of further administrative deliberations.

The remarriage clause has provoked widespread discussion, with critics citing gender discrimination and outdated customs, while supporters argue that the stipulation reflects deeply rooted cultural values and the desire to preserve legacy structures.

Efforts to obtain public statements from Lolo Frances or the Iwuanyanwu children have so far been unsuccessful.

The nation continues to watch closely as legal and ethical implications of the Will unfold in both private and public discourse.

Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke writes

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