Herbert Wigwe, the immediate past Managing Director of Access Bank and current Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, was among six people killed in a helicopter crash in California on Friday.
Wigwe, his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former chair of the Nigerian stock exchange, were all killed in the crash.
Six passengers were aboard the chartered helicopter which took off from Palm Springs and was headed to Boulder City in Nevada.
The helicopter went down near Nipton, California at approximately 10:12 p.m. PST which is 7:00 a.m. Saturday Nigerian time, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, FAA.
The weather was poor, with reports of rain and snow showers in the area. There were no survivors.
FAA identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter. It was registered to a Burbank-based tour company called Orbic Air.
The 57-year-old banker was on his way to Las Vegas to attend Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Tributes have been pouring in following the news of his death.
President Bola Tinubu described the death of Wigwe, his wife, his son and Ogunbanjo as an “overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension.”
Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of Access Holdings said the passing of Wigwe is a “major loss to the Access Family.”
The company’s board will appoint a new Acting Group Chief Executive Officer soon “to build further on Dr Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence,” Jimoh added.
