A Nigerian woman who was falsely declared dead has shocked many by appearing in court via videolink from Nigeria to prevent a convicted fraudster from taking over her £350,000 London property.
Reports from Mail Online state that June Ashimola, 55, was officially recorded as deceased in February 2019 while she was in Nigeria. This claim set off a strange and lengthy legal fight over ownership of her estate.
However, in a dramatic twist, Ms. Ashimola appeared before High Court Judge John Linwood, where she firmly stated that she was alive and had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme.
False Death Claim Sparks Legal Battle
The court learned that Ms. Ashimola was forced to take legal action after being wrongly declared dead. As a result of this false claim, control over her estate, which mainly included a house, was handed over to people connected to Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster.
Ms. Ashimola had traveled to Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned to the UK since, the court was told.
By October 2022, the power of attorney for her estate had been transferred to Ms. Ruth Samuel, who acted on behalf of a man named Mr. Bakare Lasisi. This man claimed that he had been married to Ms. Ashimola since 1993.
Court Declares Fraudulent Claims
Judge Linwood, however, ruled that Ms. Ashimola had been deceived and further confirmed that Mr. Lasisi was a fictitious person.
One of the major pieces of evidence presented was a death certificate stating that Ms. Ashimola had passed away in Nigeria in 2019 without leaving a will. This document was brought before the High Court as proof.
Some even claimed that any sightings of Ms. Ashimola after her supposed death were mere impersonations, meant to mislead the court.
However, Ms. Ashimola confidently testified that she was very much alive. She labeled the death certificate as “false and fraudulent” and insisted that the legal documents granting ownership of her estate had been wrongfully obtained.
A Unique Probate Case
“This is a highly unusual probate case because the person declared deceased is here, alive, and disputing the claims,” remarked Deputy Master Linwood.
“The core of this legal battle is a long-running attempt by Mr. Tony Ashikodi to gain control of the property,” he added.
Court documents further revealed that this case involved serious allegations, including fraud, forgery, impersonation, and intimidation.
Public Reactions and Controversy
This shocking case has left people divided. While some argue that Ms. Ashimola should return to the UK to settle the matter in person, others believe fraudsters are behind the entire scheme, attempting to steal what does not belong to them.
What are your thoughts on this unusual case?
Do you think Ms. Ashimola should return to the UK to reclaim her property?
Or do you believe justice can be served from Nigeria?
We’d love to hear your opinion!
