Herbert Wigwe linked with 106 London properties, placed 7th among billionaire homeowners

THE late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, has been linked to 106 properties in London, ranking him 7th among billionaire homeowners in the city, according to a new investigation by The Londoner.

The report, entitled ‘Revealed: The billionaires who really own London,’ uncovers the true owners behind roughly 32,000 properties across the UK capital, many of which are held through offshore entities that have long shielded their beneficiaries from public scrutiny.

The publication said it was able to identify these owners following a recent legal reform that now compels foreign companies holding UK property to disclose their ultimate beneficial owners, marking a significant shift in transparency rules around high-value real estate.

It further revealed that 2,224 of London’s most expensive and recognisable properties are registered to companies based in St Helier, a British island widely regarded as a major offshore financial centre and tax haven.

Within the ranking, Wigwe was placed 7th with 106 properties to his name. Those ahead of him on the list include John Corless, Sarah Bard, Simon Reuben, Alexander Bard, Rit Thirakomen, and Wolfgang Peter Egger.

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Wigwe died on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash in California near the Nevada border alongside his wife and son, as well as the former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo. All six passengers aboard the aircraft were confirmed dead after the crash.

According to the final report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions, a situation that significantly reduced visibility and increased risk.

Since his passing, Wigwe’s estate has been the subject of legal disputes among family members. In February 2025, reports indicated that his father, Shyngle Wigwe, and his cousin, Christian Wigwe, filed an appeal challenging a Lagos State High Court ruling in an ongoing disagreement over the management and distribution of his estate.

Minority shareholders’ case

Economy Post reported in December 2025 that some minority shareholders of Access Holdings, including a cousin to Wigwe, demanded the removal of Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and ex-Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), over breaches of corporate governance and conflicts of interest.

According to information from Access Bank’s third quarter (Q3) of 2025 seen by Economy Post, Mr Iheanyi Wigwe, a first cousin of the late Herbert Wigwe; Dr. Donatus Ogu, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, and Mr. Chukwuma Chukwura – all minority shareholders of Access Bank – were not happy over alleged breaches of corporate governance and conflicts of interest involving Mr. Usoro and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.

The minority shareholders were unhappy with the handling of shares of late Mr Herbert Wigwe and the conduct of Access Holdings Plc in connection with the rights issue undertaken after his death. They were also unhappy about the administration of Mr Wigwe’s estate.

The representative of the minority shareholders, IPL, sent a latter to Access Holdings dated March 29, 2025, to this effect.

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Following the letter, Access Holdings’ Board of Directors resolved to seek an external legal opinion, which culiminated in the engagement of the services of Olaniwun Ajayi LP to commence legal proceedings against the named minority shareholders. Access Holdings sought injunctive relief to restrain them from interfering with the management and operations of Access Holdings Plc, Economy Post gathered.

Since Mr Wigwe died, there have been family disputes over the administration of his property. Wigwe had made a will outside Nigeria covering his personal and real property both inside and outside the country.

His will specified how his estate should be distributed and appointed personal representatives and trustees to manage it.