The chief executive officer of one of Nigeria’s biggest banks was among six people killed when their helicopter crashed in California on Friday night, officials confirmed.
Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank, was aboard the chartered helicopter with his wife and son when it went down near Halloran Springs while en route from Palm Springs to Las Vegas. The other victims included prominent Nigerian investor Bimbo Ogunbanjo.
The Airbus H130 helicopter crashed around 10 p.m. local time amid wintry weather conditions. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft catch fire before impact. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
Wigwe, 57, was a towering figure in Africa’s banking sector, with ambitions to expand Access Bank’s reach across the continent. His sudden death sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s business community and political leadership. He drew praise as an innovative executive who helped transform Access Bank into one of Nigeria’s most prominent financial institutions.
The Super Bowl was set to take place just 25 miles from the crash site on Sunday. The helicopter was carrying passengers to Boulder City, Nevada, at the time it went down. Authorities have not released the identities of Wigwe’s wife and son, who also perished.
