Prominent businessman Harry Akande dies at 77 after brief illness- Nigeria has lost a prominent businessman to the colds hands of death - Akande who is also a respected chief in Ibadan died on Saturday, December 5, according to his family - The family described his passing as shocking, noting that they are still grappling to make sense of it PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! A prominent Nigerian businessman, Harry Ayodele Akande, is dead. He died in the early hours of Saturday, December 5, at the age of 77 after a brief illness, The Cable reports. The newspaper reports that Akande's death was announced in a statement released by Olumide Akande on behalf of the family. Legit.ng gathers that Akande was reputed to be one of the richest men in Nigeria. He was the chairman of Akande International Corporation (AIC) and Agba Oye of Ibadanland. Read also Not his son - Ooni's aide denounces photos of new born baby being spread as those of Oba Ogunwusi's child The deceased was also a one-time presidential aspirant on the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform. The statement reads partly: PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app In a related development, Domkat Bali, former minister of defence, has passed away at the age of 80, plunging his family and close associates into tears and grief. The octogenarian died on Friday, December 4. Read also Breaking: Former Nigerian ambassador to Greece and Australia is dead Bali was joint chief of staff between 1984 and 1985 when President Muhammadu Buhari was head of state. He retired as a decorated military officer in 1990 and later emerged as Ponzhi Tarok, the paramount ruler of the Langtang in Plateau state, in December 2010. Abba Kyari: Buhari’s chief of staff dies from coronavirus, Nigerians react | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Nigeria has lost a prominent businessman to the colds hands of death - Akande who is also a respected chief in Ibadan died on Saturday, December 5, according to his family - The family described his passing as shocking, noting that they are still grappling to make sense of it PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! Legit.ng PAY ATTENTION: "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 & extended family, friends & associates. We are all grappling to make some sense of it."