Family of Edo born renowned musician late Sir Victor Uwaifo has distanced itself from the alleged plan by his former manager Chris Eburu and his accomplices to raise funds for his one-year anniversary.
Eburu who was manager to the deceased artist is said to be currently facing trial for allegedly forging his (Uwaifo’s) will.
Uwaifo’s family made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Benin the Edo State capital on Monday.
The family members at the briefing included Uwaifo’s eldest child, Mrs Ogbomwen Reden, his son Goodman Uwaifo and others.
They accused Eburu of using a name linked to their father to deceive the public into participating in the programme.
“We know our father is a global figure that can be celebrated anywhere by his fans but not somebody who is already having issues and facing criminal charges. He is using a platform connected to my father’s Revelation Tourism Palazo to mobilise people for the event and we frown at that.
“My eldest brother is in the US, he is not aware of this, about eight, out of our father’s 12 children are not aware of this and they are not part of it,” Goodman Uwaifo said.
Similarly, Uwaifo’s daughter Mrs Reden accused the manager altering her late father’s will and brought in witnesses believed to be unknown to his father to sign as witnesses in the will.
Mrs Reden said, “The witnesses are not the kind of persons my late father would associate with. My father cannot have an unmarried woman to sign his will.
“My father was a very hard-working man till he died and I will not allow anybody to reap what he has laboured for. I am fighting for my father’s legacy”, she said.
According to the Okaegbe for the burial of late Uwaifo, Mr. Udinyiwe Obaretin, he believed that some members of the Uwaifo family were conniving with his manager to do what he was doing.
Meanwhile, late Uwaifo’s manager who declined comment when contacted said the issue of forgery was a matter already before the court and he would not comment on it.
On the anniversary, he said the Uwaifo’s Revelation Tourism Palazzo centre is an association and does not need the approval of the children of Uwaifo before it could carry out any anniversary ceremony for its late member.
Eburu however maintained that he sought the family’s consent before the making plans for the anniversary.