Late Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe Linked to 106 Luxury London Properties

The late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, has been identified among the top foreign landlords of luxury properties in London, with records showing ownership of 106 real estate assets in the United Kingdom.

According to a report cited by The Londoner, Wigwe ranks seventh on the list of major foreign property owners in London, where he reportedly holds luxury assets spread across prime locations such as Oxford Street, Canary Wharf, and Greenwich Peninsula.

Wigwe Ranked Among Global Property Holders in London

The report places Wigwe alongside several international billionaires and investors, including Thai billionaire Rit Thirakomen and members of the Reuben family, all of whom are listed among the top ten foreign landlords in the British capital.

With 106 properties attributed to his name, Wigwe’s portfolio positions him ahead of several other high-profile owners, reflecting the scale of foreign investment in London’s luxury real estate market.

The report also highlights how foreign investors have historically used offshore structures, including companies registered in tax havens such as Jersey, to acquire and manage properties in the UK while maintaining anonymity.

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These arrangements, according to the publication, allowed beneficial owners to remain hidden for years until regulatory reforms were introduced in 2022, requiring greater transparency in property ownership records.

Legal and Estate Questions Following His Death

Wigwe died in February 2024 in a helicopter crash near the California–Nevada border, alongside his wife and son. His sudden passing triggered legal disputes involving associates and family members over the management and ownership of his global assets.

The emergence of new property data has further intensified public interest in the scale of his holdings, particularly given his role as one of Nigeria’s most prominent banking executives.

The findings are based on a database compiled from UK property ownership disclosures, which ranks foreign landlords according to the number of properties held, with Wigwe placed seventh overall.