Herbert Wigwe, Wife, Son Laid to Rest Amid | Omohglobalnews

Wigwe laid to rest

Former Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and son, Chizi have been buried in his hometown Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State.

They were laid to rest on Saturday in a private mausoleum on the grounds of Wigwe University, the institution Dr. Wigwe founded in Isiokpo, Rivers State.

The burial followed after the funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Isiokpo.

Hundreds of mourners, including friends, associates, and well-wishers from Nigeria and across the globe poured into Isiokpo to pay their final respects to the trio.

Present at the service were; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Gov. Babajide Sawno-Olu, former Anambra State Gov. Peter Obi and other notable captains of industry.

Other dignitaries in attendance were Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who was the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the burial ceremony.

Also at the funeral were Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian diplomat, among many others.

The trio of Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi Wigwe alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, as well as two pilots, were all in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.

The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but a preliminary report released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) two weeks ago, said the chopper was seen by several witnesses in vehicles who reported it as a “fireball” before its eventual crash.

The Wigwes’ bodies were transported to Port Harcourt International Airport from the US.

His remains, which were accompanied by a huge motorcade on Friday, had left the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre LGA at about 1:33pm straight to his father’s compound in Omueke, Isiokpo.

Wigwe’s kinsmen had earlier insisted that their son must be buried in his hometown, Omueke, even as they vowed to deploy ancient tradition in finding out the cause of his death.

Family members and friends, had on Friday, attended the Christian wake organised in honour of the deceased in the community.

Wigwe’s passing, along with his wife and son, was a significant loss. He was a visionary leader who steered Access Bank to become a prominent global financial institution. Tributes continue to pour in from across the business community, with many remembering Wigwe’s positive contributions to the Nigerian economy. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), was also among those who died in the helicopter crash.