Late Herbert Wigwe, Wife, Son Buried In Rivers State.

The late Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and their son Chizi were buried in their ancestral town of Omueke, Isiokpo, in Rivers State.

Following the funeral church service, the remains of the esteemed Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, as well as his wife and son, were interred in a private ceremony.

The burial, which marked the end of a week-long series of funeral ceremonies, paid tribute to the late banking expert, his wife, and their son’s life and accomplishments.

It had previously been reported that the banker and philanthropist’s funeral service began promptly at 11 a.m. today.

Mourners from both the local and international communities gathered to pay their last respects.

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 attended the service.

Other dignitaries in attendance include Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who serves as the burial ceremony’s Chief Security Officer.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian diplomat, were among those who attended the funeral.

Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi Wigwe, along with former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two pilots, were all aboard the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ when it crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.

The exact cause of the crash is unknown, but a preliminary report released two weeks ago by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that several witnesses in vehicles saw the chopper as a “fireball” before it crashed.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, witnesses reported a mix of rain and snow on the fateful day of the helicopter crash.

Several friends, industry leaders, family members, and associates paid tribute to Wigwe during the events leading up to his funeral.