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The Nigerian business and political landscapes have been thrown into profound grief following the sudden and tragic passing of Chief Okey Ezeibe, MFR, a legendary entrepreneur and community leader.
The towering business mogul, who conceived the grand vision of the Lagos Trade Fair Market to house thousands of Igbo traders, was found dead in a hotel room in Owerri, Imo State, on Sunday, September 20, 2026. He was 66 years old.
The Tragic Final Hours in Owerri
The circumstances surrounding Chief Ezeibe’s death have left family, friends, and associates in utter shock. The billionaire businessman had traveled to Imo State for a scheduled political meeting with Chief Martins Agbaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate. The two were originally slated to meet over dinner, but the engagement was postponed to breakfast the following morning after Agbaso had to travel to Delta State.
When the scheduled time for the morning meeting passed and Chief Ezeibe failed to emerge from his hotel room, anxious associates knocked repeatedly on his door. Receiving no response, they forced the door open, only to find the business colossus unresponsive in his room. While official medical reports are pending, it is widely reported that he suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep.
A Monumental Business Legacy
Born on October 10, 1959, and hailing from Awgbu in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Ezeibe was a monumental figure in Nigerian commerce.
- The Trade Fair Vision: Chief Ezeibe will be remembered for his pioneering role in organizing Igbo commercial interests and conceiving the visionary idea of a unified market. He was a founding figure and former President of the Balogun Business Association (BBA), eventually serving as the Chairman of its Board of Trustees at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
- In honour of his immense contributions, the Balogun market at the Trade Fair Complex was immediately shut down by grieving traders following the news of his death.
- Legacy Motors: He was the visionary founder and Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Motors (Legacy Urban Peony Services Limited), a major Toyota dealership that solidified his reputation in the Nigerian automotive sector.
- Corporate Leadership: Beyond automobiles and trade associations, he chaired several other enterprises, including Chase Technique Industries and the Zibson Group, bringing immense economic empowerment to his community.
Political Ties and a Life Celebrated
Chief Ezeibe was not just a titan of industry; he was a highly influential political stakeholder. He was widely known as a close ally of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Mourning the heavy loss, Peter Obi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his profound sadness, describing Ezeibe as a “very dear elder brother and friend”. Obi praised his warmth and character, noting that Ezeibe’s “dream of a New Nigeria will continue to live on”.
The tragedy of his sudden demise is compounded by the fact that he was recently seen full of life and joy, celebrating his son’s wedding in the beautiful city of Marrakesh, Morocco. The recent memories of him sharing in his family’s milestone make his sudden departure all the more heartbreaking for those who loved and respected him.
The fall of this great “Iroko” leaves a massive void in the business world, the political arena, and his hometown of Awgbu.
Readers should stay tuned to www.abtnews.net for further updates on funeral arrangements and continuing tributes for the late Chief Okey Ezeibe.
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