Family sues singer, Uche Ibeto over late mum’s estate

…seeks 20m for damages

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The Administrator of the Estate of late Mrs Esther Ibeto, has dragged Jigida singer, Uche Ibeto to court over unlawful possession of the deceased property.
Uche is known for her popular music hit album, Jigida dance in the 80s.
In a suit filed the Administrator of the Estate, Mrs. Laura Chinyelu Okoh, dated October 2, 2025, accused her sister of unlawfully taking possession of cash, valuables, property title documents, and rental income belonging to the Estate after their mother’s death.
The Plaintiff, through her counsel, Barrister E. Omoijiade accused Uche of sponsoring defamatory publications in the media against her and other members of the family.
Specifically, she mentioned a publication in Sahara Reporters, dated September 9, 2025, where she accused Mrs Okoh of conniving with a judicial officer to eject her from her home at 36, Ibezim Obianulu. street, Lagos, where she had lived.
But the Estate Administrator prayed the court for an order of the court for Uche, who is the sole defendant in the matter to return all assets belonging to the Estate, provide a full account of the Estate’s finances, and publish a retraction and apology for the defamatory statements.
The, plaintiff also asked the court to order monetary compensation of N10,000,000 for defamation and N10,000,000 for the cost of the legal action.
She further prayed the court for an order for the defendant to account for £10,000 (Ten thousand Pounds) allegedly withdrawn from the deceased’s Barclays Bank account and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the Estate or publishing further defamatory statements.
In the statement of claim, deposed to, by the Estate Administrator, the Claimant in the matter, Mrs Okoh, avers that the Defendant, without lawful authority from the administrators of the estate rented out various portions of the deceased’s property, including the boys’ quarters, garages, and flats, and has converted rental income of more than¥25,000,000 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) to her personal use.
The Claimant further said despite repeated requests and demands, the Defendant has persistently refused, neglected, and failed to provide an account for or retum the monies, valuables, and documents that were unlawtully removed from the deceased and the Estate.