Billionaire businessman and Chairman, Ocean Marine Services Limited, Capt. Idahosa Okunbo is dead.
He was aged 63.
According to family sources, the billionaire politician died in London, United Kingdom on Sunday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Reports gathered that his health had remarkably improved following treatments in London and German hospitals, and was planning to return to Nigeria next week to attend the coronation of the new Olu of Warri, Tsola Emiko, who is married to his daughter, Ivie.
“He had his new Lagos home decorated and even bought a new Rolls Royce for the new king,” one of the sources revealed.
Okunbo was a business magnate, investor, and philanthropist.
He was also a trained commercial pilot.
Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary in Benin City, old Bendel State, now Edo State.
From there, he attended Federal Government College, Warri and studied at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, to become a professional commercial pilot at 21.
He also attended ACME School of Aeronautics, Fort Worth Texas in 1983, where he obtained an Airline Transport Pilot License.
He was a flight captain with Intercontinental Airlines for about two years and was employed by Okada Airlines for three years.
He retired from piloting at the age of 30 in 1988 and ventured into a private business.
Okunbo was the founder and Chairman of CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Abuja, Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Ltd, and others.
He also served as either chairman or director on numerous company boards in Nigeria.
