Herbert Wigwe, the late group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, has been linked to the ownership of 106 properties in London, United Kingdom (UK).

Under late Wigwe's leadership, Access Holdings pursued a sweeping expansion across Africa and beyond, helping the corporation reach the ninth-largest bank in Africa before Nigeria devalued its currency in 2023.

Herbert Wigwe linked to 106 London properties

According to a report by The Londoner, the findings were part of an investigation titled “Revealed: The billionaires who really own London.”

The investigation uncovered 32,611 properties in London owned by overseas entities following a recent change in United Kingdom law requiring foreign companies to disclose their beneficial owners.

Researchers said the new disclosures made it possible to link previously hidden owners to prime real estate across the city, including major commercial and residential locations such as Oxford Street, Canary Wharf, and Greenwich Peninsula.

Nigerians recall that Wigwe died in a helicopter crash in the United States in February 2024 alongside his wife, son, and former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

Since his death, members of Wigwe’s family have reportedly been involved in legal disputes over his estate.

In February 2025, The Punch reported that Shyngle Wigwe, father of the late banker, and Christian Wigwe, his cousin, filed an appeal to challenge a ruling by the Lagos state high court in the dispute over an estate belonging to Wigwe.

The report by The Londoner, which came to light on Friday, March 27, 2026, also noted that many of London’s high-value properties are owned through offshore companies registered in jurisdictions such as Jersey, where ownership details were previously less transparent.

Foreign investors dominate London property market

The findings highlight the growing scale of foreign investment in London’s real estate market, with several wealthy individuals and entities holding property portfolios through overseas firms.

The late Wigwe was ranked seventh on the log with 106 properties to his name.

Ahead of Wigwe are John Corless, Sarah Bard, Simon Reuben, Alexander Bard, Rit Thirakomen, and Wolfgang Peter Egger.