Uncle Bayo was a lively, generous man with a penchant for big parties and even bigger secrets. When he passed away at 85, he left behind a small fortune: a house, some plots of land, some fat bank accounts, and a mysterious handwritten will. In it, he named his longtime drinking buddy, Baba Wasiu, as the executor. The family raised a collective eyebrow at this choice. Baba Wasiu was notorious for his love of wine and his tendency to “forget” things. But Uncle Bayo had declared him “the most trustworthy man I know,” so the family begrudgingly accepted it.

After Uncle Bayo passed, the family gathered to kick off the estate distribution, but Baba Wasiu was nowhere to be found. Calls to his phone went unanswered. Days turned into weeks, and just when they started to think he had passed away too, someone spotted him… in Dubai. Yes, Dubai. Turns out, Baba Wasiu had withdrawn a hefty sum from Uncle Bayo’s accounts and decided he deserved a “little vacation” for all his hard work not distributing the estate. He was seen on Instagram sipping coffee with hashtags like #GodDid, #MoneyWellDeserved, and #ExecutorThings.

With Baba Wasiu AWOL, the family decided to take matters into their own hands. But Uncle Bayo’s will, written on the back of a jollof rice menu, didn’t make it easy. His instructions were cryptic at best:

• “Land papers are with Wasiu. Good luck finding them.”
• “There’s some cash hidden in the house. Look where I keep my socks.”
• “Tell Tobi not to sell my generator. It’s worth more than gold.”

This kicked off a frantic house raid. Cousins, aunties, and even neighbours showed up to help “look for Uncle Bayo’s socks.” What they found instead: ₦2 million in cash inside an empty garri container, a plot of land deed being used as a bookmark in a romance novel, and an IOU slip where Wasiu had borrowed ₦500,000 from Uncle Bayo “to fix his roof.”

Just when they thought they had pieced everything together, Baba Wasiu resurfaced. He strolled into the compound wearing designer agbada, claiming he had “come to make things right.” He delivered an emotional speech about how he spent the money “investing in opportunities for the family” and had just returned from a business trip in Dubai. The family, of course, wasn’t buying it. Baba Wasiu ended up being dragged to court, where the judge reprimanded Uncle Bayo for his poor planning (posthumously).

If Uncle Bayo had chosen an institutional executor like ARM Trustees, his family wouldn’t have been subjected to Baba Wasiu’s Dubai Diaries. Institutional executors ensure impartial management of the estate. Unlike a family member or friend, an institutional executor has no personal interests, which ensures fairness in asset distribution, prevents financial mismanagement, and—most importantly—doesn’t disappear on vacation with estate funds.

A professional executor is legally bound to carry out the terms of the will faithfully and handle the process with expertise and professionalism. No cryptic will instructions, frantic searches, or misplaced assets involved. In case of disputes, institutional executors operate under legal frameworks that protect all parties, ensuring everything is handled according to the law. Estate administration is already stressful enough—why add drama and family tension to it?

So, what exactly is Institutional Executorship? Simply put, it means appointing a professional entity, like a trust company, to manage and administer your estate when you’re no longer in the picture. These professionals are equipped to handle the legal, financial, and logistical responsibilities of settling an estate. Unlike a family member who might have personal interests or conflicts, an institutional executor remains neutral, ensuring your estate is divided exactly as you intended. Whether you have business interests, investments, real estate, or a more complex portfolio, a professional executor has the expertise to manage it all seamlessly.

Bottom line: institutional executorship ensures your wishes are honored without turning your family into a reality show. Don’t be like Uncle Bayo. Opt for a professional, institutional executor by reacing out to us today on 02012715002 to ensure your legacy is handled with care, not chaos.