In a shocking case of fraud, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman, June Ashimola, has proved she is alive to stop a convicted fraudster from stealing her £350,000 home in Woolwich, southeast London.
Ashimola was officially declared dead in February 2019, even though she was very much alive. This false claim set off a legal battle over her property.
How It Happened
After Ashimola was wrongfully listed as deceased, power of attorney over her estate—including her house—was granted to Ms. Ruth Samuel. Samuel acted on behalf of a man named Bakare Lasisi, who falsely claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993. However, a UK High Court judge later ruled that this marriage never happened and that Lasisi himself did not exist.
Ashimola had traveled to Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned to the UK. By October 2022, Samuel had taken control of her property, claiming it on behalf of the fictitious Lasisi.
The Fraud Scheme Uncovered
Deputy Master John Linwood, the judge handling the case, discovered that the real mastermind behind the fraud was Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster known for property scams. The judge described the case as a tangled web of fraud, forgery, impersonation, and intimidation.
Since visa issues prevented Ashimola from traveling to the UK, she appeared via video link from Nigeria. Her identity was confirmed through passport photographs, proving that she was alive.
Court’s Ruling
After reviewing the evidence, the judge concluded:
Ashimola was never dead, and the death certificate was forged to steal her property.
READ ALSO: EFCC Exposes 58 Ponzi Schemes Defrauding Nigerians
Tony Ashikodi was behind the scheme and misled the court.
Both Ashikodi and Samuel were either part of the fraud or knowingly used false documents.
With this ruling, the fraudulent power of attorney was revoked, securing Ashimola’s ownership of her home.
The Cost of Fraud
The case dragged on for years, leading to legal costs exceeding £150,000—an amount that may be higher than the property’s actual value.
This case highlights the dangers of property fraud and the lengths some criminals will go to in order to steal valuable assets.