Rivers: Bitter Fight In Lulu Briggs Family Over Will

Billionaire Kalabari son, Benson Lulu Briggs had a premonition of what might happen after his death between his children and wife over the multi-billion naira estate he left behind.

But he seemed not to enviswage the level of acrimony that the wealth he left behind will create in his family apart.

To avert the impending catastrophe in his own little way, the oil mogul decided to settle his first three sons with a portion of his property, and from what the magazine learned he gave them a large chunk of it between 2003 and 2004.

The rest of the estate he gave to his beloved wife, Seinye Lulu Briggs, because according to the content of the Will he left behind, the Rivers state born business man stated that he had settled his first three children and therefore did not leave tangible wealth for them.

One of the children is Dumo Lulu Briggs, a staunch politician and chairman of Platform Petroleum.

The other two sons Senibo and Sofiri, the father said in the will, have been settled and therefore will no longer share a substantial part in the wealth he left behind.

That is now the cause of major dispute between Seinye and the three sons of late prominent Kalabari chief who died recently in Ghana.

Since he joined the silent majority his family has not known peace over suspicion on the part of the three children that he may not have died of natural causes.

The philanthropist, the magazine learnt had lived with and managed increasing and debilitating Parkinson disease for close to 20 years before he eventually died recently.

Besides, the children are also contesting the Will the business man left behind.

Sources close to the family told the magazine that some members of the family believe that the content of the will must have been doctored in favour of his widow.

Dumo alongside his brothers had opposed the reading of the will over allegation of fraud and extortion.

In fact, the senior son of the high chief who died in December last year secured an exparte order from a high court in Rivers state to prevent the reading of the will.

But the order was later vacated leading to the reading of the will, part of which stated that the deceased must be given a Christian burial in which Seinye, his widow must play a major role.

Close to a year after he passed on his three eldest children are in a bitter fight with the wife on how the wealth he left behind should be shared.

An autopsy carried out at the military hospital Ghana on July 19  to ascertain his demise , has been rejected by the children who have demanded that a fresh one be conducted.

The Ghanain authority however rejected the request.

Apart from this, the magazine learnt that efforts by some prominent Nigerians to intervene in the dispute have been vehemently opposed by Dumo and his siblings.

For instance, the magazine was told that former Governor of Cross Rivers state, Donald Duke is one of those that have tried to mediate in the matter but is yet to make a head way in the matter.

Duke is one of the four trustees of the estate left behind by Benson who until his death was chairman of the oil exploration and production company, Moni Pulo Limited.

Apart from the ex-governor, the Amanayabo of Kalabari, King J.T. Princewill Amachree is believed to have waded in the matter but “has been trying hard to bring all the family members together for an amicable solution,” one very close relation of the Lulu Briggs told the magazine on Friday.