The CEO of Nigeria's largest bank and the former chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange died Friday in a helicopter crash in the United States, in California, the bank and the president of Nigeria announced on Sunday.
The boss of Access Bank Group, Herbert Wigwe, “died alongside his wife and son on Friday February 9, 2024 in a helicopter accident in the United States,” the group said in a press release, highlighting that “the entire Access family mourns (their) loss”.
US authorities said two crew members and four passengers were killed in the crash.
Today, we bid farewell to a visionary leader, @HerbertOWigwe, whose passion and unwavering commitment to excellence transformed Access into a global powerhouse.
His legacy of excellence and compassion will continue to inspire us all.
Rest in peace, Herbert Wigwe.
Your impact… pic.twitter.com/Hmatx5aT9D
— Access Bank Plc (@myaccessbank) February 11, 2024
Nigeria's head of state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said former chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was also among the dead, calling the accident "an overwhelming tragedy beyond comprehension."
“The President extends his condolences to the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo families, the business community and all those affected by this accident,” his spokesperson added in a statement on Sunday.
🔴 Herbert Wigwe: Death of A Gifted, Visionary And Ambitious Banker
🔴 Managing Director and CEO of Access Corporation, parent company of Access Bank Plc, Nigeria's leading banking group, Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe died on Friday, February 9 following of an accident… pic.twitter.com/IC7NaDfBPZ
— Forbes Africa (@Forbes_Afrique) February 11, 2024
Six victims
The Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said on social networks that she was “terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe, CEO of the Access group Bank, his wife and son, as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo, in a helicopter accident.
“A Eurocopter EC 130 helicopter crashed near Nipton, California at approximately 10 p.m. local time on Friday, February 9.
Six people were on board,” the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on its website, without mentioning the names of the victims.
She said an investigation would be opened.
Michael Graham, a member of the United States National Transportation Safety Board, explained at a press conference Saturday that the helicopter took off from Palm Springs, California, bound for Boulder City, Nevada.
About 90 minutes after takeoff, "the helicopter struck the ground south of I-15 near Halloran Springs, California," he said.
VIDEO.
United States: emergency helicopter catches fire and crashes into homes
Access is Nigeria's largest bank by assets, according to Bloomberg.
The bank hailed its CEO as a “key driving force and larger-than-life personality who brought remarkable passion, energy and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise.”