Remains of Herbert Wigwe, Wife, Son Gets Buried in Rivers State

Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba and son, Chizi have been buried in his hometown Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State.

The remains of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, his wife and son were laid to rest in a private interment following funeral church service.

Their burial followed a week-long funeral rites to celebrate the life of the late banking expert, his wife and son.

The funeral service for the banker and philanthropist commenced at 11am today.

Mourners, including friends, associates, and well-wishers from both local and international communities, gathered to pay their final respects.

Present at the service were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Gov. Babajide Sawno-Olu, former Anambra State Gov. Peter Obi and other notable captains of industry.

Other top dignitaries in attendance were Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the burial ceremony.

Also at the funeral were Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian diplomat, among many others.

The trio of Herbert, Chizoba and Chizi Wigwe alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, as well as two pilots were all in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.

The exact cause of the crash had yet to be known as of press time, but a preliminary report released by US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) two weeks ago, said the chopper was seen by several witnesses in vehicles who reported it as a “fireball” before its eventual crash.

According to the NTSB, the witnesses reported that the weather on the fateful day of the helicopter crash was a mix of rain and snow.

During the events leading to Wigwe’s burial, several friends, captains of industry, family members and associates paid tributes to the late banking guru.