News
Don’t Let Wigwe’s Legacies Die, China Appeals To Partners, Bank
Deaths of some legends can be turned to gains, so declared an investor and entrepreneurial icon, the Mayor of Housing.
This is as the financial icon, Dr Herbert Wigwe, is not dead yet, except his vision and projects are allowed to die, according to the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China.
China was reacting to the spreading shock of the death of the CEO of Access Holdings Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, Chizoba Doreen and son, Chizi, in a chopper crash in the US aroind 10:30pm on Friday night, February 9, 2024.
The deaths and those of three other occupants of the helicopter have been confirmed by US aviation authorities and Access Holdings Plc in Nigeria.
Wigwe was a honed accountant, who began his career in the highly tested and trusted Coopers & Lybrand Associates, a global company of Chartered Accountants, from where he joined the Guaranty Trust Bank, and worked for over a decade before joining Access Bank Plc.
He forged a close association and partnership with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and some other top brains to acquire the bank, and has since transformed the financial institution to an international financial powerhouse.
The Mayor of Housing, however, that the best approach to this tragedy is to turn it into positives by looking up to Herbert Wigwe’s vision and legacies, and cementing them further to make him live on.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, the Mayor of Housing and CEO of the Housing & Construction Mayor Limited, My-ACE China, said he has contacted Herbert Wigwe’s partners and those associated with his dreams so as to galvanise them into making the dreams of the legend to live on.
He said: “Immediately after news of the crash in the US and the passing of the high profile Nigerian CEO and Rivers-born Dr Herbert Wigwe, I started looking up his partners, those associated with his dreams, and the construction partners at the Wigwe University to encourage them to keep hope alive. I know that men of vision, or legends, don’t die until their legacies die. So, Dr Herbert Wigwe is not dead, yet.
“So, I immediately started looking up those whose onus and opportunity it is to sustain his dreams and make sure that Dr Herbert Wigwe does not die.”
He stated that, “Dr Herbert Wigwe will die the day Wigwe University is dead; the day Access Bank Plc stops being a leading financial institution in the world; the day all the wonderful partnerships he has brokered between Access Holdings Plc and other companies globally and in Africa die; or the day all the acquisitions by Access Holdings Plc he has helped to acquire die.”
He insisted that “Access Holdings Plc is not a one-man dream, the Wigwe University concept is not a one-man dream, Herbert Wigwe is not a lone-man project, he has got partners, and he has got associates.”
According to him, “The onus is on them to ensure that the dreams do not die.”
Enumerating three ways Herbert Wigwe could possibly die, China stated: “If they let his vision die, then they have actually let him die; if they let his vision live and succeed, they have let him live; and if they propagate and exponentially build these dreams beyond the wildest imaginations of Herbert Wigwe himself, they would have not only made him live on but they would have immortalized him and his legacies.”
He recalled his quotes about legends and death thus: “I have a quote that says ‘legends don’t die, they only live as long as their legacies last’. Herbert Wigwe is not dead but he has left us a legacy of excellence, a legacy of performance, a legacy of visionary leadership, a legacy of exponential partnership, and a legacy of resilience in the face of hardship. All we can do is to put hands together to make sure Herbert Wigwe doesn’t die the real death.”
So, he declared, “all associates, all customers of Access Bank Plc, all workers, everybody that is associated in keeping his legacies alive, they must rally round and make sure this legend does not die.
“All I can say is: Herbert Wigwe is not dead, but if we want him to die, we let his dreams die. If we make his dreams live, he lives, but if we allow his dreams die, he then dies. If we make his dreams live beyond his wildest imaginations, then we would have made him live and live. So, let’s make Herbert Wigwe live on.”
The Mayor of Housing said he did not meet Herbert Wigwe face-to-face but that he has met some of his staff that revealed much about him, his visionary leadership, and his striving for excellence.
“I don’t know a lot but I know of one thing that is required to be a leader: the only way to lead is by example. One thing I have heard about Herbert Wigwe that I hold dearly is that if he asks you to do one thing 10 times, he does it 12 times. That shows he is a leader that acts in the front.
“We have other leaders that dish out commands from the back but would not do one tenth of what they ask you to do. But Dr Herbert Wigwe is a performance-leader, and such species of homo sapiens are rare. In fact, if we live the life of the likes of Dr Herbert Wigwe, we would not be busy weeping, but if we strive to sustain his dreams and legacies, he would then live on.”
By: Nelson Chukwudi
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria for clinching the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, describing the feat as a source of inspiration to millions of Nigerians.
The Super Eagles secured third place in the continental tournament after defeating the Pharaohs of Egypt 4–2 on a penalty shootout.
Akpabio conveyed his message in a statement released yesterday, and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh.
He said, “The match against the Pharaohs of Egypt was a testament to your skills and determination, and I commend you for your exceptional performance. Your victory is a testament to the talent and resilience that Nigeria is renowned for, and we are proud to have you represent our country on the international stage.
“I urge you to celebrate this achievement with pride and use it as a motivation to strive for even greater heights in your future endeavours. Your achievement is a source of inspiration to millions of Nigerians, and we look forward to seeing your continued success.
“Once again, congratulations to the Super Eagles on this remarkable achievement. May your bronze medal serve as a reminder of your capabilities and the heights you can reach with hard work and determination.”
The Senate President’s commendation comes amid widespread praise for the national team’s resilience and character following a challenging AFCON campaign that saw Nigeria narrowly miss out on a place in the final.
Nigeria secured a record-extending ninth Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties following a tense, goalless third-place play-off at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Saturday.
The Super Eagles and the Pharaohs, two of Africa’s most decorated football nations, were inseparable after 90 minutes of attritional football, with both sides failing to find a breakthrough in regulation time before the contest was decided from the spot.
The victory preserved Nigeria’s flawless record in AFCON third-place play-offs, as the Super Eagles have now won all eight such matches they have contested.
Nigeria entered the match seeking consolation after their dramatic semi-final defeat to the host team, Morocco, where they lost 4–2 on penalties following another goalless draw.
Egypt, on the other hand, were aiming to bounce back from a narrow 1–0 semi-final loss to Senegal, which brought an end to their long-standing dominance at that stage of the competition.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, also known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” 12 years after his alleged involvement in the killing of three NDLEA officers.
Jimoh was arrested last Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following intelligence-led operations by tactical teams of the agency.
A search of his hideout led to the recovery of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
A statement released yesterday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect has been on the NDLEA wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs to attack NDLEA officers who attempted to arrest him at his enclave.
He said, “Following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, Kanmo-Kanmo, who is notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was on Friday, 16th January 202,6 tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State by tactical teams of the agency following credible intelligence. During the clinical operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
“The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.
“?Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, he had on 15th June 2014 orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave. The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilised by Jimoh. While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.”
In a related operation on August 12, 2023, NDLEA operatives raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, where 139 sacks of skunk weighing 1,922 kilograms were recovered.
The suspect again evaded arrest at the time. The property, which was used as a drug warehouse, was later forfeited to the Federal Government following court proceedings.
In a separate operation, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Tuesday, January 13, raided Arokpa forest in Uzebba town, Owan West Local Government Area, arresting a 53-year-old suspect, Isihor Edika, and seizing 320 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds.
In Abuja, Babafemi said a 44-year-old woman, Yinka Agboola, at Kaura District, over the alleged online sale of illicit drugs was arrested.
He said items recovered from her residence included 2.2 kilograms of skunk and quantities of cannabis oil.
Babafemi said, “In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, operatives on Friday, 16th January, tracked and arrested a 44-year-old lady, Yinka Agboola, following intelligence on her online sale of illicit substances.
“At the time of her arrest, 2.2kg of skunk and litres of cannabis oil, which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisement, were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja. Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was on Tuesday, 13th January arrested with 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk at his 12 Biskira Street, Abacha Estate, Abuja home.”
In Lagos, he said NDLEA officers seized 118.1 kilograms of skunk from Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan at Fadeyi, Mushin, last Friday, January 16.
On the same day, 116 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a warehouse at New Market area of Enugu, Enugu State.
Meanwhile, along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway in Delta State, Babafemi said two suspects, Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, were arrested on Thursday, January 15, while transporting 410,800 pills of tramadol, 84.2 litres of codeine syrup, 82,250 tablets of diazepam, 900 tablets of swinol and 65 pills of Molly.
“In Oyo State, Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, was nabbed on Thursday, 15th January at Moniya, Ibadan, with 321 litres of skuchies, and 2.5kg Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, while Rasheed Ajao, 28, was caught same day at Odo-Ona, Ibadan, in possession of 5.4kg Scottish Loud; 1.696kg skunk and 2.5kg Colorado, bringing the total weight to 9.696 kilograms.
In another raid at Agbeni area of the state capital, 52,430 pills of tramadol and bromazepam were recovered from the store of Orji Edwin, currently at large, on Saturday, 17th January, ” the statement added.
In Kwara State, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, January 13, raided a residence at the Gamo area of Ilorin, where 42 bags of skunk weighing 387.40 kilograms were seized.
In Jigawa State, Babafemi said an ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, and his accomplice, Ahmed Sani, 32, were arrested on Saturday, January 17, at Nassarawa GRA, Ringim Local Government Area, with quantities of skunk and exol-5 pills.
He added that Ammani attempted to escape during the operation and injured an officer.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, the FCT, Enugu and Kwara states for the arrests and seizures, and urged them to sustain ongoing drug control efforts.
He described the arrest of Kanmo-kanmo as a triumph of justice and a testament to the Agency’s long memory, adding that the arrest sends a clear and unambiguous message to all drug barons and fugitives.
“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you.
?“The arrest of Lekan Jimoh is particularly significant because it closes a painful chapter that began on June 15, 2014. For twelve years, this individual lived with the blood of our gallant officers—Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others—on his hands. He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes,” he added.
Jimoh had been on the agency’s wanted list since 2014 following the killing of three NDLEA officers during an attempted arrest in Ogun State.
His arrest comes amid a series of coordinated raids across several states, reflecting the agency’s renewed push to tackle illicit drug production, distribution and trafficking, and to bring fugitives linked to past attacks on law enforcement to justice.
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