Nearly a year after the passing of Nigerian elder statesman and former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the details of his last Will and testament have been made public, shedding light on how the late billionaire businessman and political heavyweight structured the future of his legacy and estate.

The Will was formally read on June 16, 2025, by Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), in the presence of Iwuanyanwu’s family members and legal representatives. Iwuanyanwu passed away on July 25, 2024, at the age of 82.

Chief Iwuanyanwu was married to his first wife, Lady Eudora Nnenna Ozinyereaku Iwuanyanwu, for over 40 years until her death in 2011. In 2013, two years after her passing, he remarried Frances Chinonyerem Enwerem, who was 26 at the time, while he was 72.

Among the most talked-about provisions is the inheritance left to Frances, his second wife. She is the beneficiary of several high-value properties and businesses, including:
    •    The iconic ‘Legacy House’ on Port Harcourt Road in Owerri — a well-known landmark.
    •    Full ownership of Magil Furniture, a business once managed by his first wife.
    •    Partial stakes in real estate located in Orji, Works Layout, and Naze in Imo State.

However, the Will comes with a strict clause: if Frances remarries, she will forfeit all her entitlements under the Will.

    •    The Abuja family residence is bequeathed to the couple’s son.
    •    The London property is to be sold, with proceeds divided:
    •    60% to fund the education of Iwuanyanwu’s youngest son,
    •    30% to his first son, Jide, and
    •    10% to Ezinne, the current occupant of the property, to assist with her relocation.

True to his long-standing public service ethos, Iwuanyanwu directed that the ‘Glass House’ near the Owerri flyover be converted into a public trust. An independent board will manage the property, ensuring it serves charitable and community development functions.

Other valuable holdings, including assets across Imo, Abuja, and other Nigerian cities, have been equitably shared among Iwuanyanwu’s five children. His Will reflects an effort to preserve family harmony, reward loyalty, and invest in generational growth — while leaving behind a legacy rooted in philanthropy and prudence.

As the family begins the legal and logistical process of executing the Will, attention is expected to remain on the clauses surrounding Frances’s inheritance — and the future of the public trust initiative Chief Iwuanyanwu envisioned in his final days.