March 7, 2024

The 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, on Wednesday, broke down in tears while recounting how the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, came to his rescue after he was dethroned and banished.

Sanusi made the revelation at the continuation of the  Night of Tributes organised in Wigwe’s honour in Lagos attended by captains of industry and political bigwigs who paid tributes to the deceased.

Sanusi broke down in tears thrice, while recounting his sojourn with late Wigwe.

He recalled how the late banker came to his rescue when he was dethroned and needed a place for he and family to stay.

According to him: “When I had problems in Kano, I called him (Wigwe) about six months before I was to leave Kano and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘Your Highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’NextStay

“On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I wanted to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9 am, and by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phone call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months.”

According to Sanusi, Wigwe’s kindness to him gave many the impression that he (Sanusi) owned Access Bank while Wigwe and Aig-Imoukhuede were his stooges.

“When I came, we stayed there. Some people believe I own Access Bank, and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers, they gave me security and a private jet and they asked for nothing, and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert,” he said.

He added: “When I heard of his death, I said, ‘In the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a businessman, but they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagine how one human being could have been so many things to so many people.”

Sanusi also recalled how he entrusted his life savings to Wigwe.

“About two years ago, I put all my savings into a trust for the education of my children, I have many, and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have a good education.

“I told Herbert, ‘I am placing you in charge of this trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and do not leave any money, you will educate my children.

“I thought I would die before Herbert,” he revealed.

Sanusi, who was comforted by Abia Governor, Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede and an aide as a result of failure to control the flowing tears, added that because of the level of kindness Wigwe accorded him, many believed he owned Access Bank, while he (Wigwe) and Aig-Imoukhuede were his proxies.

“On the day before this happened, I was in a chat group when somebody made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive, and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear: this was unacceptable.

“A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (the day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. 

“He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him,” he added.

The Nation reported that Wigwe; wife, Chizoba; and son, Chizi, are scheduled for burial between March 4 and 10, 2024.

The three died in a helicopter crash in California, United States of America on February 9, 2024.

-agency news