Herbert Wigwe Linked to 106 London Properties Posthumously

A report has revealed that the late Nigerian banker Herbert Wigwe was linked to the ownership of 106 properties in London, placing him seventh among billionaires in real estate holdings in the British capital. The investigation identified a total of 32,611 properties in London owned by overseas entities, highlighting the scale of foreign investment in the city's real estate market.

This disclosure follows recent changes in UK law that mandate foreign companies to register their real owners, allowing for greater transparency in property ownership. Wigwe, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in the United States in February 2024 along with his wife and son, previously served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, one of Nigeria's largest financial institutions.

The report underscores the significant number of expensive properties in London owned by companies based in jurisdictions like Jersey, revealing ownership structures that were not publicly available before.