“No Forgery, No Irregularity” — Estate Administrator Laura Accuses Sister Uche Of False Claim, Says Disputed Property No Longer Belongs To Family

The family of the late Mrs. Esther Ibeto has issued a strongly worded statement dismissing recent claims by Ms. Uche Ibeto over ownership of properties belonging to their late mother, describing them as “spurious, malicious, and utterly misleading.”

In an official press release signed by Mrs. Laura Chinyelu Okoh, the first daughter of the deceased and duly appointed Administrator of the Estate, the family insisted that Ms. Uche Ibeto, the third child of the late Esther Ibeto, has no legal right or authority over the estate and has continued to mislead the public in a bid to usurp the powers of the administrator.

According to the statement, the property in dispute has already been sold, and the buyer has since taken possession as the rightful and lawful owner. The family emphasized that there were no issues of forgery or irregularity surrounding the sale, stressing that the matter is an internal family issue being managed in line with the law.

Mrs. Okoh alleged that immediately after their mother’s death in 2013, Ms. Uche Ibeto unlawfully broke into the deceased’s room, carting away valuables, including title documents and cash exceeding ₦35 million, as well as jewellery and personal effects valued at over ₦250 million. She further accused Uche of fraudulently withdrawing over £10,000 from the late Esther Ibeto’s Barclays Bank account in the UK while their mother was terminally ill.

The administrator also alleged that Uche had illegally rented out portions of their late mother’s property, collecting over ₦25 million in rental income without accountability. Most recently, she allegedly collected ₦1.5 million from a tenant, Mr. Lawrence, in respect of the boys’ quarters.

“These acts constitute criminal misappropriation, fraudulent impersonation, and breach of trust. Ms. Uche Ibeto cannot parade herself as the owner of the property or a victim of eviction when she has been the one unlawfully taking and profiting from the estate’s assets,” the statement read.

In a follow-up letter dated August 20, 2025, Mrs. Okoh formally demanded that Uche return all cash, jewellery, title documents, and other assets taken from the estate within seven days. The administrator warned that failure to comply would leave the estate with no option but to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector-General of Police, and institute civil proceedings in court for recovery, damages, and injunctive relief.

The letter further listed possible criminal liability under Nigerian law, including stealing, fraudulent false pretence, impersonation, breach of trust, and threats of violence — all carrying penalties ranging from three to fourteen years’ imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the family has also petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Lagos, challenging what it described as “direct interference” by police officers in the administration of the estate.

In the petition dated September 11, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Okoh, the family expressed concern that police officers had interfered in the property dispute, including removing estate staff and disrupting lawful management.

“The police are neither beneficiaries nor parties to the estate. We are surprised and disturbed by this interference. We respectfully call on the AIG to direct all officers involved to refrain from further interference and allow the family and the administrator to complete the administration process in accordance with the law,” the petition stated.

The family reiterated that Ms. Uche Ibeto remains neither administrator nor owner of the estate, insisting her claims amount to an unlawful usurpation of authority.

In a notice to beneficiaries, Mrs. Okoh clarified that while the late Esther Ibeto had three biological children, two additional relatives, Mr. Ikechukwu Ibeto and Mr. Chike Charles Ibeto, have been recognized as beneficiaries in the interest of equity and fairness. She directed all beneficiaries to submit their bank account details by August 25, 2025, to facilitate eventual distribution once assets are reconciled and valued.

The administrator assured that the estate would be managed transparently, with a final account prepared and assets distributed equitably in line with the law.