Late Nigerian banking executive Herbert Wigwe has been identified as the owner of 106 properties in London, according to a new report analysing property ownership in the UK capital.
The report, titled “Revealed: The billionaires who really own London” by The Londoner, examined more than 32,000 properties and uncovered the individuals and entities behind them.
Drawing on data from tax expert Dan Neidle and Tax Policy Associates, the report placed Wigwe among foreign billionaires, firms and institutions with significant real estate holdings across London, including areas such as Oxford Street.
It found that Wigwe ranked seventh among top overseas property owners in the city, behind figures including John Corless and Simon Reuben.
The findings follow recent UK regulations requiring overseas entities to disclose the real owners of property assets. The rule aims to improve transparency in the property market and curb the use of offshore structures.
According to the report, a large number of high-value London properties are registered through companies based in St Helier, Jersey, often described as a tax haven.
Wigwe, who served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, died in a helicopter crash in the United States in February 2024.
His reported property portfolio highlights the scale of foreign investment in London’s real estate market, where global investors continue to play a major role.
Analysts say increased disclosure requirements could reshape ownership patterns and provide clearer insight into who controls high-value assets in the city.
