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Tinubu, calls Wigwe’s parents, Ghana’s President, Akufo-Addo too, as more condolences pour in
Reactions have continued to pour in from Nigeria and beyond, as sympathisers commiserate with Shyngle Wigwe and wife, the grieving parents of late Group Managing Director of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter accident last Friday in the United States of America.
Alongside President Bola Tinubu, President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa have also called in to offer their condolences on the death of the 57-year-old financial guru, who died of the desert of California, alongside his wife, Chizoba, son Chizzy, and former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo on their way to watch the Super Bowl.
Tinubu, it was gathered, spoke to Wigwe’s parents through Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s phone to commiserate with them and provided them very comforting words. The president made the call at 12.02pm, while Akufo-Ado called Aig-Imoukhuede at 3.17pm and both offered condolences on the passing of the great African Banker.
Equally, on Tuesday, former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; and former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, alongside other associates paid condolence visits to the parents of Herbert Wigwe.
Others, who signed the condolence register at the residence of the Wigwes in Lagos, were Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke; former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; and former Minister of Petroleum, Don Etiebet.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, and his counterpart in Cross River State, Bassey Otu, in separate press statements, condoled with the management and staff of Access Holdings over the death of Herbert Wigwe.
In his tribute, Osinbajo wrote: “We lost a gem, a brother and a decent man. May the Lord comfort Daddy and Mummy. May the morning joy come quickly, while Sanusi, wrote: “Adieu my brother, my friend. What a tragedy. You are irreplaceable. We will miss you forever. Rest in peace.”
Emir of Zazzau, said: “A great personal loss to us. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” Amosun wrote, “Brother Herbert, goodbye. Good manager, adieu. May your soul rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort your aged parents, your siblings and the entire Wigwe family, adieu,” and Adebayo wrote, “This is a very sad and awful day.”
Okonkwho, FBN Holdings boss said: “What can I say, Herbert, you lived a life of impact. We can’t question God. Only He knows why He allowed this. RIP dear brother, while Anyoku was quoted by THISDAY, as saying: “Herbert was a great star, with a huge prospect of further illumination before he was plucked from the universe. It is a terrible loss in his sphere of activities, the banking sector, and to the country. I say adieu to him.”
Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, said: “Herbert was a first class guy, he was kind, courageous, intelligent and supportive and a loving gentleman. I worked with him from 1999, we did business, we met challenges and we fought them, and stayed true to our goals.
“It’s a great loss, he was very supportive to lots of charitable causes, helping people to pay their school fees, and their welfare. He was able to actualise his dream of the Wigwe University. His legacies are fundamental institutions that will really impact on the society.
“Access Bank is not just an African bank, it has branches in US, France, Dubai and in China. The fact is that Herbert has done a lot for African business community. So, his legacies are institutions that will endure.”
Zenith Bank, in a statement, condoling with the family of Herbert Wigwe, and describing him as an icon, said: “We mourn with the Wigwe family and Access Holdings on the sudden transition of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and his son, Chizi.
“Dr. Wigwe was an inspiring leader devoted to positive change and human empowerment. He left indelible footprints not only as the Group CEO of Access Holdings, but also with his numerous contributions to the advancement of the financial services industry and growth of the Nigerian economy.
“In this trying period, we remember the values he lived by and his humble and generous nature that made him so dear to many. We reflect on the impact he had in the lives of others and thank God Almighty for the legacy he left behind. May the souls of Herbert, Chizoba and Chizi rest in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In a condolence message he personally signed, the Kogi State governor described the late CEO of Access Holdings as an amiable and hardworking individual, who was driven by patriotic fervour and commitment to the ideals of nation-building.
The governor recalled his recent meeting with the late Wigwe during which they had a robust conversation on how to explore areas of partnership between Access Holdings and the Kogi State government in line with his administration’s agenda to expand public-private partnership for accelerated growth and development of the state.
According to Ododo, “The late Herbert Wigwe was an exceptional individual whose impact transcended the banking industry and his generation. He was a humble and hardworking businessman who meant so well for the transformation of Nigeria and I am deeply saddened by his painful exit.
“As a government and people, our thoughts are with the Wigwe family who suffered far too many losses in one accident and all his colleagues at Access Holdings in this trying moment.
“Our thoughts are also with the government and people of Rivers State and my brother, Governor Siminalaye Fubara, for the irreparable loss of one of Nigeria’s most impactful businessmen, investor and a pathfinder for the younger generation. Nigeria and, indeed, humanity lost a colossus in Herbert Wigwe.”
The governor prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and other Nigerians who lost their lives in the unfortunate air accident.
Otu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, expressed condolences over Wigwe’s tragic death alongside others in the helicopter accident.
The statement quoted Otu as saying, “I received with utmost shock and sadness the tragic death of one of Nigeria’s sterling bankers and business icons, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, alongside his wife, son and others aboard a helicopter in the United States.
“This a huge blow to the banking and financial sector, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa and the world.
“Dr. Wigwe was a shining example of industry, brinkmanship and dedication to all of humanity. Dying at a time when he was pioneering world class education through his Wigwe University is a devastating loss to this lofty dream and all who hoped on him.
“My deepest condolences to his family, his community, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc., his friends and associates.
“As painful as this death is, Dr. Wigwe will be remembered for the impactful life he lived and his unflinching dedication to excellence.”
Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, (APC Niger East), expressed sadness over the tragedy.
In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Musa stated, “I am deeply saddened and devastated by the tragic news of the passing of my dear friend, Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings, along with his wife and son, and another close friend, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Group Chairman of NGX Group. This loss is profoundly felt across the nation.
“I am down in spirit that we have to lose Herbert Wigwe this early in life. He was a man of integrity and strong conviction to work, he was a great personality and in his chosen career, he exhibited a high level of professionalism and unmatched leadership, which marked him out as a true patriot. He was a man who never believed in cutting corners to achieve success in business.
“He was a visionary, charismatic and transformational leader, who contributed significantly to the development of the banking industry in Nigeria and the economy at large.
“I wish to on behalf of my family and the people of Niger East Senatorial District offer our condolences to the Wigwe family, the Board and Management of Access Bank, the governor of Rivers State, the President and Commander-.in-chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria for losing such a great son, iconic entrepreneur a serial investor at such a time that our country needs his services the most.
“My heartfelt prayers are with Herbert, his beloved wife, his son, and all those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash. May God grant them eternal rest and provide strength to Herbert’s family, Access Holdings, and all of us mourning this irreplaceable loss.”
With an angry riposte, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, waved away the sweltering criticisms from a groundswell of the public, lacerating Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, on his now viral video where he exhibited great difficulty in pronouncing the N650 billion figures, he presented to the Edo State House of Assembly as the state’s 2025 budget.
The social media have been awash with the video of the governor repeatedly trying to mention the figure correctly, and even at a point explaining that he was confused, a development, which has elicited different reactions from the public, with critics saying it was emblematic of the degeneration in the nation’s polity, where hugely incompetent people were being recruited into positions clearly beyond them for political purposes.
In the video, Okpebholo appeared to have gone smoothly until he got to the figure, and then began to flutter and stutter repeatedly, thus: “The Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill of 6 billion… 650… 605 billion… 76 thou… 76 million…“Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me.”
But in a swift pushback to the barrage of criticisms from the public, who also wondered what manner of budget would stop at just a round figure without fractions Jarrett Tenebe, Chairman of the APC in the state, in apparent defence of the governor, dismissed the issues raised as unfounded, arguing that the “mistake” was common to humans, including world leaders, including Jacob Zuma, former President of South Africa.
In his apparent anger over the meaning being adduced to the supposed blunder, the party boss, inferred that nobody was unfazed in the state, particularly within the APC camp, insisting that the people had willingly chosen the governor to lead them for the next four years and those in opposition of the choice should “go to hell and burn to ashes.”
Hear him: “The Social media has been agog with our governor’s budget presentation about a mistake on 650 billion and the rest of it all. It’s a normal thing. (Jacob) Zuma made such a mistake, and a lot of people make such mistakes. I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original figures. Obaseki will not make such a mistake because he has stolen figures. Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.
“Monday is not a thief, so he’s not familiar with figures. So, anybody who wants to talk can continue to talk. It’s nonsense. “He’s the governor of the state, he’s performing, and he will continue to perform. And anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes, period, and thank you,”
The budget titled: The Appropriation Bill is titled “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo, the first by the governor, who emerged the winner in the election of Saturday, September 21, and was sworn in on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, which was presented was said to have reflected a 25 per cent increase from the 2024 budget.
Justice Maryanne Anenih of the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama on Tuesday ordered the remand of Yahaya Bello, immediate past Governor of Kogi State in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja pending his bail application.
By the court’s ruling, that the former governor’s bail application would now be given on January 29, 2025, it means that he would be spending the whole of Christmas and New Year period in prison, as the court adjourned further proceedings in the criminal case involving the alleged theft of N110billion against him instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Anenih, who had agreed with the submission that Bello’s bail application was filed prematurely, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, was incompetent, said: “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely is hereby refused.”
Rejecting his plea, of the former governor, who had earlier filed the application on November 22 before he was arrested on November 26 and arraigned on November 27, Anenih granted bail to Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, with whom he is standing trial on the ground of a N300million bond and that they must produce sureties who must have property worth the said amount within the court’s jurisdiction.
The former governor, is said to have since filed a fresh bail application with a plea to the court for an early hearing date, to prevent him from spending the yuletide period in Kuje correctional centre.
Abayomi Adeosun, the Presiding Magistrate, at the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday returned Dele Farotimi, lawyer and activist to prison till December 20, when his bail application will now be determined in the case of criminal defamation against Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) foremost lawyer and educationist.
Adeosun agreed with the prosecution that who had told the court that the bail application submitted by Farotime was incomplete and not properly filed, a development which came after a hot argument between police prosecuting lawyer and the legal team of Farotimi, over the propriety of Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka, (SAN) in the matter, being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Samson Osobu, the police lawyer prosecuting the matter, had also objected to the appearance of Olumide-Fasuka to represent the activist, standing trial on a 16 count-charge of defaming the legal luminary in his book, titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges, on the ground that members of the Inner Bar, were barred from appearing at magistrate courts.
Objecting to the senior lawyer taking over the matter, he cited the recent judgment of a court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State delivered on July 16, 2024, where the court ruled that SAN could not appear before the magistrate court.
But countering, Olumide-Fasuka, who explained that the Ekiti state magistrate court law enacted by the House of Assembly allowed lawyers irrespective of status and title to appear in the court especially in criminal matters as it related to the suit against the defendant, urged the court to reject the argument of the prosecuting lawyer, noting that the verdict he cited might not have put into consideration all magistrate court laws across the country.
After listening to the argument, the Magistrate who stepped down his ruling on the matter for him to read the judgement, asked Olumide-Fasuka to step down and allow the most senior lawyer in Farotimi’s team to continue the case, pending his ruling on the matter, enabling Taiwo Adedeji, another lawyer in the team to take over.
After further argument on the matter, the court, which had on Wednesday, last week when Farotimi first appeared, slated the determination of the bail application for Tuesday, shifted proceedings to the new date while ordering that the activist be returned to prison custody till the new date.
Budget blunder: Go to hell, burn to ashes, Okpebholo remains governor – APC
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