Eight years after the death of billionaire businessman and oil magnate Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, the dispute surrounding the circumstances of his passing and the rift within his family remains unresolved, with legal battles and personal animosities still playing out in public view.
Chief Lulu-Briggs, the founder of Moni Pulo Limited and a prominent figure in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, died on December 27, 2018, at the age of 88. At the time of his death, he was widely regarded as having lived a long and impactful life, building a vast business empire and earning respect across the Niger Delta and beyond.
On December 26, 2018, the businessman was said to have been resting on a sofa in his expansive residence in Abonema, Rivers State. Family members and associates around him reportedly believed his condition, though frail, was not life-threatening, and prayers were offered for his recovery.
Less than 24 hours later, his children were informed that their father had died under circumstances they described as sudden and troubling. The news, according to the family, came unexpectedly and sparked immediate concerns about how and where the death occurred.
Central to the controversy was Lulu-Briggs’ wife, Seinye Lulu-Briggs, who was alleged by his children to have communicated the news of his death from Accra, Ghana. The manner in which the information was relayed was described by the children as disrespectful and lacking sufficient explanation.
The children accused Seinye of withholding critical details about their father’s final moments. They claimed she did not inform them that she had travelled with the visibly ill businessman to Ghana, a development they said only came to light after his death was announced.
These allegations triggered a prolonged and bitter feud between Seinye and members of the Lulu-Briggs family, particularly Dumo Lulu-Briggs, one of the late businessman’s sons. The disagreement soon escalated beyond private family disputes into a widely publicized conflict involving accusations, counter-accusations, and legal threats.
Over the years, several prominent individuals and groups reportedly attempted to mediate and reconcile both sides. Despite these interventions, the parties involved have consistently failed to reach an agreement or present a united front, allowing the rift to deepen.
The dispute has endured through multiple anniversaries of Chief Lulu-Briggs’ death. Each remembrance has reportedly reopened old wounds, reinforcing the bitterness rather than offering closure to the family.
In December last year, when the family marked the seventh anniversary of the patriarch’s passing, sources close to the family revealed that tensions remained high. According to those sources, the conflict has not abated, and communication between the opposing sides remains strained.
It was further gathered that Dumo Lulu-Briggs has issued a warning to Seinye, urging her to stop using his father’s name. The matter has reportedly moved to the courts, where legal action is being pursued to formally address the issue.
The continuing feud has drawn attention not only because of the stature of the late oil mogul but also due to the unresolved questions surrounding his death. Despite the passage of time, those questions have continued to fuel suspicion and deepen divisions within the family.
As the years pass, the Lulu-Briggs family dispute stands as a reminder that wealth and influence do not necessarily shield families from prolonged conflict. With court proceedings ongoing and emotions still raw, the possibility of reconciliation appears uncertain, even eight years after the death of one of Nigeria’s most prominent businessmen.
