A Lagos-based business mogul and politician, High Chief Okey Ezeibe, has been found dead in his hotel room in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Ezeibe, who hailed from neighbouring Anambra State, was on a trip to attend a meeting with Chief Martins Agbaso, the Imo State 2027 Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
It was learnt that Ezeibe was scheduled to meet Agbaso on Saturday during dinner, but the NDC governorship candidate had travelled to Delta State for another engagement. Both men then agreed to meet yesterday morning, September 20, over breakfast.
When the scheduled time for Ezeibe’s departure to Agbaso’s residence passed, his associates knocked on his hotel room door and eventually forced it open. He was found dead.
According to available information, the cause of death was probably a heart attack.
Until his death, Okey Ezeibe was the Chief Executive Officer/founder of Legacy Motors (Legacy Urban Peony Services Limited). He was also a former President and Board of Trustees member of the Balogun Business Association (BBA) in Lagos.
He was a close friend of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In May this year, the former Vice President traveled to Marrakech, Morocco, to chair the wedding ceremony of Chief Okey Ezeibe’s son, Muna Ezeibe, who married Cherina, the daughter of former Burkina Faso Prime Minister Lassina Zerbo. Atiku noted that he attended the occasion to honor a personal friendship with Chief Ezeibe that spans over 45 years.
But in this build up to the 2027 election, Chief Ezeibe had been supporting the presidential bid of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Shocked friends and associates have been paying tribute to the departed business titan. One of them, Chief Emeka Alex Duru, said in a WhatsApp group that “Okey was simplicity personified,” adding: “He was the brain behind the Balogun Business Association (BBA), otherwise known as Lagos Trade Fair Market. In his house at Park Lane, Lagos, you would hardly differentiate between members of his house hold and his aides.”
Another associate, Sir Ike Abonyi, described Ezeie’s death as “devastating,” noting that he was “such a humble, easy-going man.” (Additional reports by TheNiche)
