The management of Access Bank has issued a statement in reaction to the reported death of its CEO, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, his wife and the son in a helicopter crash on Friday night, in California, USA.
The statement signed by the Group Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, captioned “ACCESS HOLDINGS PLC ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF ITS GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DR. HERBERT WIGWE, CFR” mentioned the name of Wigwe’s son who died in the accident.
Ekwochi stated: “It is with deep sadness that the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) announces the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’). Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024 in a helicopter accident in the United States of America.
“The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones. Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise since joining theBank in 2002.
“Commenting on the passage of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of Access Holdings said: ‘The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience which he brought to bear on the Access Family and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude’.
“In line with the Company’s policy, the Board will soon announce the appointment of an Acting Group Chief Executive Officer even as we remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”
Meanwhile the manifest of passengers on the helicopter that killed Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife – Chizoba, 29-year-old son – Chizi, and Chief Abimbola Ogunbanjo, has shown that Wigwe’s personal assistant pulled out at the last minute.
The manifest besides registering the particulars of the passengers also indicated that the P.A., identified as 49-year-old Faleye Olushola John, pulled out at the last minute.
He reportedly chose, at the last minute, to travel by road with their luggage.
Faleye flew with Wigwe (58), his 56-year-old wife, son and the 61-year-old former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo from London, United Kingdom to Palm Spring, a city in California, US.
On getting to Palm Spring, Faleye declined to board the ill-fated flight going to Boulder City in Nevada. He insisted that he would not travel by helicopter at night due to the weather conditions.
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Well, mat their souls rest in peace
The one who opted out saved his life
Night helicopter flight in bad weather.