Igbo Billionaire Onwa Global Buries Father With High-End Copper Casket in Imo

IMO, Nigeria: The burial of Chief Stephen Ozuome Ibeh, father of prominent businessman Chief Stephen Arinze Ibeh, popularly known as Onwa Global, has attracted widespread attention following reports about the use of a high-end copper casket at the funeral.

The elaborate burial ceremony took place in Umualaoma community, Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State, with prominent business figures, community leaders and other dignitaries in attendance.

Chief Stephen Ozuome Ibeh reportedly died at the age of 86.

Grand funeral ceremony

The burial activities began with a vigil Mass on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Umualaoma.

A requiem Mass followed on Thursday, August 20, at the same church, with the Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Augustine Okwuoma, said to have presided over the service.

The funeral reportedly attracted a large crowd, including prominent industrialists from the South-East and members of more than 40 social clubs.

The scale of the ceremony turned the community into a major gathering point for business associates, friends, relatives and community members who came to pay their final respects.

Controversy over the copper casket

One of the major talking points surrounding the funeral has been the copper casket used to bury the deceased.

Reports circulating online have claimed that the casket was worth about ₦200 million. However, the exact price has not been independently confirmed.

Information shared by APAMS Funeral Ltd on its official social media platforms reportedly confirmed that the Ibeh family purchased a copper casket from the company, but the company did not publicly disclose the amount paid for it.

Some reports have put the estimated cost at about ₦130 million, while others have suggested that the value could be closer to ₦200 million because of current prices and the specifications of the casket.

Therefore, the widely circulated ₦200 million figure should be treated as an unverified estimate rather than a confirmed purchase price.

Huge turnout from business and social circles

The funeral also attracted attention because of the reported presence of several wealthy industrialists and business personalities from the South-East.

Members of numerous social and community clubs reportedly attended the ceremony, with some groups presenting gifts and financial contributions to the family.

A cheque dummy reportedly bearing ₦100 million was displayed by one of the clubs that attended the event, while some individuals were also reportedly seen presenting substantial cash gifts.

Claims circulating online have even suggested that the family may have received billions of naira in gifts and contributions during the funeral. Those figures, however, have not been independently verified.

A celebration of an influential community figure

Beyond the discussion surrounding the cost of the casket and the scale of the funeral, the ceremony was also described as a celebration of the life and legacy of Chief Stephen Ozuome Ibeh.

Community members reportedly remembered the deceased as a respected figure whose burial brought together family members, friends, business associates and community groups.

The event has also reignited conversations around the increasingly elaborate nature of high-profile funerals in parts of South-East Nigeria, where burial ceremonies can sometimes attract thousands of guests and involve significant spending.

For Onwa Global and his family, the ceremony provided an opportunity to honour their patriarch while bringing together people from different parts of the business and social community.