A Nigerian woman who was falsely declared dead has successfully reclaimed her £350,000 London home after proving she is alive.
June Ashimola, 55, appeared before the High Court via videolink from Nigeria, bringing an end to a complex legal battle over her property.
In February 2019, Ashimola was officially recorded as deceased, leading to a dispute over the ownership of her home in Woolwich, southeast London.
According to Daily Mail, fraudsters had used a forged death certificate to claim control of her estate.
The case involved Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, who was accused of orchestrating the elaborate scam.
Ashimola had left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned since.
Unknown to her, legal documents were manipulated, and power of attorney over her estate was granted to a woman named Ruth Samuel on behalf of a supposed husband, Bakare Lasisi.
Lasisi claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993 and sought control of her assets.
However, investigations revealed that Lasisi did not exist, and the entire claim was based on fraudulent documents.
The court was presented with various fabricated materials, including emails and a marriage certificate, all allegedly proving Lasisi’s relationship with Ashimola.
However, after examining the evidence, the judge ruled that the documents were false and that Ashimola had been the victim of a sophisticated scam aimed at stealing her property.
Despite facing visa restrictions that prevented her from appearing in person, Ashimola was able to confirm her identity through passport photos.
The judge determined that she was indeed alive and that all claims against her estate were fraudulent.
The ruling nullified the fraudulent power of attorney and restored her rightful ownership of the property.
The case also revealed that the legal battle had resulted in excessive legal fees, surpassing £150,000—an amount that might even exceed the equity of the house.
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