Nigerian Woman Declared Dead Triumphs in UK Court, Reclaims Home

June Ashimola, a Nigerian woman wrongly declared dead, has reclaimed her £350,000 home in Woolwich after a UK court ruled that her death certificate was forged. The ruling was made during a battle against fraudulent claims by a convicted scammer. Ashimola’s identity was confirmed via passport photographs, leading to the revocation of the fraudulent power of attorney and reaffirmation of her property rights.

June Ashimola, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman wrongfully declared deceased, has successfully contested the seizure of her £350,000 home in Woolwich, London, through a video appearance before the UK High Court from Nigeria. This wrongful declaration, made in February 2019, initiated a prolonged legal dispute regarding her estate.

Prior to the court hearing, power of attorney over Ashimola’s estate had been granted to Ruth Samuel, representing a Bakare Lasisi, who falsely claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993. During the proceedings, the judge, Deputy Master John Linwood, ruled the alleged marriage and Lasisi’s existence to be fraudulent. Ashimola had left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned since.

By October 2022, Samuel had assumed power of attorney based on the fictitious claims of Lasisi regarding Ashimola’s estate. The court found that Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, had orchestrated this elaborate fraud to gain control over Ashimola’s property. Deputy Master Linwood characterized the case as an intricate web of fraud, with Ashimola’s identity verified through passport photos despite her inability to attend in person due to visa complications.

The judge determined that the declaration of Ashimola’s death was based on forged documents. In his ruling, he stated that Ashimola is indeed alive and noted major discrepancies regarding the claims made against her. He dismissed the legitimacy of the documents presented by Ashikodi and Samuel, asserting that they were produced through fraudulent means. Consequently, the power of attorney was revoked, reaffirming Ashimola’s rightful ownership of her home.

Legal costs for the case have reportedly surpassed £150,000, which may exceed the equity value of the property in dispute. This ruling affirms the importance of thorough investigations in cases of alleged fraud, notably when a person’s identity and rights are at stake.

The case of June Ashimola highlights the critical issues surrounding identity theft, fraud, and the protection of individual property rights. Her successful legal battle against the fraudulent claims illustrates the necessity for thorough judicial scrutiny in probate matters, ultimately reaffirming her ownership of the property. Furthermore, the financial implications of such legal disputes are significant, with costs potentially outstripping property values.

Original Source: punchng.com