Billionaire Businessman Harry Akande Dies After Brief Illness

By Dipo Olowookere

A Nigerian businessman, Mr Harry Akande, has died, a statement from the family has confirmed.

The billionaire businessman was said to have passed away on Saturday morning after a brief illness, the statement signed by the son of the deceased, Mr Olumide Akande, who is the husband of a popular actress, Dakore Akande, disclosed.

In the statement made available to Business Post, the family of the 77-year-old business mogul, who was the Agba Oye of Ibadanland, Oyo State, requested for prayers for the family in this trying period.

“In the early hours of Saturday, December 5, 2020, our patriarch Chief Harry Ayodele Akande passed away following a brief illness.

“Chief Harry Akande was an astute businessman of international repute whose legacy and influence cut across continents.

“But by far his greatest passion was for a better Nigeria that guaranteed equity and justice for all. It is our fervent hope that this will be a reality in the not too distant future.

“His passing is a huge shock to his immediate and extended family, friends & associates. We are all grappling to make some sense of it.

“As we seek the repose of his gentle soul, we ask you to in turn uphold us in your prayers while we pass through this very turbulent period of our lives occasioned by the loss of someone as dear as him,” the statement said.

Late Akande, who once aspired to become the President of Nigeria, recently won a case against South African retail stores, Shoprite, where he got a N4.6 billion judgment in favour of him at a court of appeal sitting in Lagos.

The deceased had reached out to Shoprite on the possibility of establishing the business in Nigeria. Things were going smoothly as he carried out several feasibility studies, including the best locations for the outlets. However, when it was time to set up, he was allegedly sidelined and this made him institute legal action against the company.

Though his appeal for 50 per cent of $92.3 million as loss of profit he suffered due to the incorporation of Retail Supermarkets Limited was not granted, a Lagos High Court awarded him $10 million (N4.7 billion) damages against Shoprite.