Nigerian Woman Declared Dead Achieves Legal Victory in UK Over Home

June Ashimola, a Nigerian woman, won a UK legal battle after being falsely declared dead. She successfully prevented a fraudster from seizing her £350,000 home after presenting evidence in court. The judge ruled against the claims made by a purported husband and revoked the fraudulent power of attorney, restoring her ownership. Legal costs exceeded £150,000 in this complex case.

June Ashimola, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman, has successfully won a legal battle in the United Kingdom after being falsely declared dead. This declaration occurred in February 2019, sparking a dispute over her property, a home valued at £350,000 in Woolwich, southeast London. Appearing before the UK High Court via video link, Ashimola sought to prevent a convicted fraudster from seizing her estate.

The court proceedings revealed that after Ashimola’s wrongful declaration of death, power of attorney over her estate was improperly granted to Ruth Samuel, who claimed to represent Bakare Lasisi, a man who falsely asserted he married Ashimola in 1993. Upon investigating, the judge dismissed that both the marriage and the husband were real.

Ashimola relocated to Nigeria in 2018 and did not return to the UK. By 2022, Samuel was awarded power over Ashimola’s estate on behalf of the fictitious Lasisi, prompting legal action. The prosecutor behind the takeover attempt was identified as Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster with a history of property-related crimes.

As Deputy Master John Linwood presided over the case, he characterized it as one rife with fraud, forgery, impersonation, and intimidation. He stated, “This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive.” Linwood detailed Ashikodi’s ongoing campaign to seize control of Ashimola’s property, which included multiple fraudulent actions.

Despite logistical challenges that prevented Ashimola from appearing in person due to visa issues, the court verified her identity using passport photographs. The judge ultimately ruled in her favor, declaring, “I find Ms Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained.” He concluded that both Ashikodi and Samuel participated in the creation or reliance on fraudulent documents.

The judge retracted the power of attorney, thereby restoring Ashimola’s rightful ownership of her property. The total legal costs amounted to over £150,000, potentially surpassing the property’s equity value, underscoring the implications of this protracted legal battle.

The extraordinary case of June Ashimola illustrates the severe implications associated with identity fraud and the legal battles stemming from false declarations of death. The UK High Court’s decisive ruling not only restored her rightful ownership of property but also highlighted the vigilance required against fraudulent schemes. The court’s extensive findings emphasize the importance of verifying identity and authenticity in legal matters to prevent similar injustices in the future.

Original Source: osundefender.com