A recent investigation has linked late Nigerian banker, Herbert Wigwe, to the ownership of 106 properties in London, ranking him among the top foreign real estate holders in the city.
The report by The Londoner placed him seventh on a list of billionaires with significant property holdings in the British capital.
Findings from the investigation showed that about 32,611 properties across London are owned by overseas entities following new legal requirements compelling foreign companies to disclose their beneficial owners.
According to the publication, the disclosure regime enabled researchers to trace previously hidden ownership of high-value assets located in key parts of the city.
The report indicated that data used in the investigation was compiled with the support of tax expert Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates, who provided access to records on overseas-owned properties.
Prominent locations such as Oxford Street, Canary Wharf, and Greenwich Peninsula were identified among areas with properties linked to foreign ownership.
Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States in February 2024 alongside members of his family and business associate, was listed among notable global investors with large property portfolios in London.
Before his death, he served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc.
Since his passing, legal disputes have emerged among family members over the management of his estate.
The investigation also revealed that many of the properties are held through offshore companies in jurisdictions such as Jersey, where ownership details were previously not easily accessible.
Overall, the findings highlight the scale of foreign investment in London’s real estate sector and expose ownership structures that had remained undisclosed for years.
