Fact check: Did Late Ohanaeze Leader Iwuanyanwu Bar His Wife From Remarrying in His Will?

The alleged contents of the final will of the late elder statesman and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have sparked heated reactions across Nigeria, particularly over one controversial clause said to target his widow.

According to a NewsVista reporter, claims emerged in early June 2025 suggesting that Iwuanyanwu’s will prohibits his wife, Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem Iwuanyanwu, from remarrying if she wishes to retain her inheritance. This sparked online debates, with many questioning both the legality and morality of such a clause.

Iwuanyanwu passed away on July 24, 2024, in Abuja, at the age of 81, after a brief illness. He was married to Frances in 2013 when he was 72 and she was just 26. Their marriage produced one son before his passing.

The will was reportedly read by Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), and, according to reports, included a stipulation that Frances would forfeit all assets willed to her if she chooses to remarry. Among the properties reportedly left in her care are Magil Furniture (formerly managed by his late first wife, Eudora), as well as real estate in Orji, Works Layout, and Naze, all in Imo State.

She was also willed the family’s Legacy House on Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, but with a restriction: she is not allowed to sell the property. Additionally, the popular ‘Glass House’ at the Owerri flyover is to be converted into a public trust.

The will also reportedly outlined the sale of a London property, with proceeds distributed as follows: 60% for the education of their youngest son, Jide, 10% to Ezinne, the current occupant of the property, and 30% to Iwuanyanwu’s first son.

While TVC News and Guardian Nigeria reported parts of this story, it was not widely covered by other mainstream platforms. To clarify the situation, NewsVista referenced a conversation with a journalist at Champion Newspaper — a publication Iwuanyanwu himself founded. The journalist confirmed the authenticity of the will’s contents but declined to provide direct access to family members for further comments.

Despite the reports, no family member has publicly confirmed or denied the controversial clause about remarriage, and legal experts have raised questions over the enforceability of such stipulations in Nigerian law.

For now, it remains a developing story — but one that has certainly stirred public debate on inheritance, personal freedom, and traditional values.