Late Nigerian banking executive Herbert Wigwe, former Group CEO of Access Corporation Plc, has been linked to 106 luxury properties in London, according to a new report analysing overseas ownership of UK real estate.
The findings, published by The Londoner, place Wigwe among the top foreign owners of high-value properties in the British capital. He is ranked seventh on the list, ahead of several influential individuals and institutional investors.
The report, based on newly released data, examined properties held by overseas investors, corporations, and governments—many of which are owned through offshore entities. It found that Wigwe’s portfolio of 106 properties surpassed holdings linked to entities such as the Private Department of the President of the UAE and the Washington State Investment Board.
Topping the list is John Corless with 246 properties, followed by Sarah Bard (130), Simon Reuben (129), Alexander Bard (122), Rit Thirakomen (120), and Wolfgang Peter Egger (120).
The analysis highlights the significant influence of private individuals in London’s property market, often exceeding that of institutional players.
According to the report, many of London’s most valuable assets—including luxury apartments, commercial buildings, and retail spaces—are held through offshore companies registered in jurisdictions such as Jersey, Guernsey, and the British Virgin Islands. These structures, while legal, have historically made it difficult to trace ownership.
However, a 2022 UK law requiring overseas entities to disclose beneficial ownership has begun to shed light on previously hidden property networks.
Drawing on data compiled by Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates, the report identified over 32,000 London properties owned by overseas entities, with Wigwe’s holdings standing out for their scale.
Wigwe, who led Access Bank’s transformation into a major financial institution, died alongside his wife and son in a helicopter crash in the United States on February 9, 2024. The family was reportedly travelling to attend the Super Bowl in Las Vegas at the time of the accident.
The report underscores the growing footprint of global investors in London’s high-end real estate market and the quiet accumulation of significant property assets by individuals operating largely outside public view.
