Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe, Wife, and Others Die in Helicopter Crash in California

The Nigerian presidency has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, the CEO of Access Bank, calling it a severe blow to Nigeria and the African banking industry.

This information comes as American authorities confirm that a helicopter carrying six people crashed in California on Friday night.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, in his official account, stated that Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and their son were on the helicopter.

“This is a significant loss for the Nigerian and African banking industry.

Wigwe had a grand vision to make Access Holdings Africa the largest, with an insatiable thirst for acquisitions. He also left his mark on the community by building a university, stating that it would make a difference by focusing on entrepreneurship.

Now he has left all to return to his maker. May his soul rest in perfect peace. May the souls of his wife Chizoba, son, and lawyer Abimbola Ogunbanjo, who died in the same tragic helicopter crash in the California desert, also rest in peace,” he said.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, also confirmed in her post on X that Herbert Wigwe, the Group CEO of Lagos-based Access Bank, was on board the helicopter with his wife and son.

However, the cause of the crash is still unclear, and reports suggest that no survivors have been found yet.

The crash occurred around the Nevada border in California, United States, on Friday evening.

American authorities, specifically the Federal Aviation Administration under the US Department of Transportation, stated in their release that a “Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter crashed near Nipton, California, around 10 p.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 9, with six people on board.”

The Aviation Administration mentioned that their National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would commence an investigation and provide updates.