A new investigative report has linked the late Nigerian banking executive, Herbert Wigwe, to the ownership of 106 properties in London, placing him among the most prominent foreign owners of high-value real estate in the British capital.
The report, published by The Londoner and cited by TheCable, ranked Wigwe seventh on a list of billionaires who hold extensive property portfolios across London through overseas companies.
Titled Revealed: The billionaires who really own London,the investigation uncovered the secret ownership structures behind thousands of prime properties in the city. According to the publication, the study examined more than 32,000 properties across London, many of which are owned through offshore companies that conceal the identities of their real owners.
The report noted that the identities of many of these property owners were revealed following recent legal reforms in the United Kingdom requiring foreign companies to disclo
According to the findings, a significant number of London’s most expensive and well-known properties are registered under companies based in St Helier in Jersey, a British island that has developed a reputation as a major offshore financial centre and tax haven.
Investigators revealed that 2,224 of London’s most recognisable and high-end properties are registered through companies located in the jurisdiction.
Within the ranking of billionaire homeowners, Wigwe was credited with 106 properties linked to him through offshore entities. His property holdings placed him seventh on the list of wealthy individuals with significant real estate investments in London.
Those ranked ahead of him include John Corless, Sarah Bard, Simon Reuben, Alexander Bard, Rit Thirakomen, and Wolfgang Peter Egger.
The report highlights the growing influence of international billionaires in London’s property market, which has long been considered one of the most attractive destinations for global real estate investment due to its political stability, strong legal protections and high property values.
Before his death, Wigwe served as the group chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, one of Africa’s largest financial institutions.
Under his leadership, Access Bank expanded aggressively across Africa and into international markets, transforming from a mid-tier Nigerian bank into a global financial services group with operations in several countries.
Wigwe was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential bankers and business leaders. His tenure was marked by a series of strategic acquisitions and mergers that significantly strengthened the bank’s position in the Nigerian and African financial sectors.
He also played an active role in philanthropy and education, including the establishment of institutions and initiatives aimed at developing leadership capacity among young Africans.
Wigwe’s life was cut short on February 9, 2024, when he died in a helicopter crash in California near the Nevada border in the United States.
He was travelling with his wife and son, as well as Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, when the helicopter went down.
All six people on board the aircraft were confirmed dead following the crash, which sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s financial and corporate communities.
The final report released by the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions, which significantly reduced visibility.
Since Wigwe’s passing, members of his family have reportedly been involved in legal disputes over the management and distribution of his estate.
In February 2025, Punch Newspapers reported that Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late banker, alongside Christian Wigwe, his cousin, filed an appeal challenging a ruling by the Lagos State High Court regarding the administration of Wigwe’s estate.
The dispute is believed to revolve around control of the assets and inheritance arrangements left behind by the influential banker.
The report linking Wigwe to over a hundred London properties provides further insight into the scale of his global investments and financial legacy.
London has long served as a preferred destination for wealthy investors seeking to diversify their portfolios through real estate, with luxury properties often held through offshore companies for privacy and tax efficiency.
For Wigwe, whose career spanned decades in banking and finance, the property holdings underscore the vast international footprint he built during his lifetime.
Even after his death, the revelations about his extensive property portfolio and the ongoing legal disputes surrounding his estate continue to keep the late banker in public conversation, highlighting both the scale of his achievements and the complexities surrounding the wealth he left behind.
