Nigerian Woman Declared Alive Wins Court Battle to Reclaim £350,000 Home
June Ashimola, a Nigerian woman falsely declared dead, won a UK High Court battle to reclaim her £350,000 home. The court found fraudulent claims by a convicted criminal who attempted to seize her estate. Deputy Master Linwood affirmed her identity and ruled against the legitimacy of the documents presented by the alleged fraudsters.
June Ashimola, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman, recently triumphed in a UK High Court case after being wrongly declared dead. This declaration sparked a legal dispute over her £350,000 home located in Woolwich, southeast London. Participating via video link from Nigeria, she asserted her status as a living victim of fraud, countering claims that a convicted fraudster sought to seize her estate.
In February 2019, Ashimola was erroneously declared dead, leading to a power of attorney being assigned to Ruth Samuel on behalf of Bakare Lasisi, who falsely claimed to be her husband. The judge ruled that both the marriage and Lasisi himself were fabrications. Ashimola had left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned, leading to the ongoing exploitation of her status by fraudsters.
As the court proceedings unfolded, Deputy Master John Linwood categorized the case as a complex web of fraud, forgery, and impersonation, noting that it was unusual for a “deceased” individual to assert their living status. He emphasized the prolonged efforts of Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, to gain control over Ashimola’s property.
Despite her inability to appear in person due to visa hurdles, Ashimola’s identity was confirmed through passport images. Deputy Master Linwood decisively stated that the presented death certificate was forged or fraudulently produced, vindicating Ashimola and restoring her rights to her estate. He dismissed any claims of legitimacy surrounding the supposed marriage and fraudulent documents related to her death.
Ultimately, the judge annulled the power of attorney, thereby protecting Ashimola’s ownership rights. It was noted during court proceedings that both parties’ legal costs had surpassed £150,000, which could potentially exceed the equity value of the property.
In conclusion, June Ashimola successfully reclaimed her £350,000 home after a court ruling concluded that she was a victim of a fraudulent scheme, falsely declared dead by a convicted fraudster. The case highlighted significant issues of identity theft and legal misconduct. The court’s ruling affirmed Ashimola’s rights and rescinded the fraudulent power of attorney arranged by her alleged impersonators, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding individual property rights against fraudulent activities.
Original Source: punchng.com
