A Nigerian woman, June Ashimola, who was falsely declared dead, has appeared in a UK High Court via video link from Nigeria to prevent a convicted fraudster from taking over her £350,000 home in Woolwich, southeast London.
Ashimola was reportedly declared deceased in February 2019, triggering a legal battle over her estate. However, she presented herself before High Court judge John Linwood, asserting she was alive and a victim of an elaborate scam.
The court heard that after Ashimola’s alleged death, Power of Attorney over her estate was granted to associates of convicted fraudster Tony Ashikodi.
Court records revealed that Ashimola left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and has not returned since. In October 2022, Ms Ruth Samuel was awarded Power of Attorney on behalf of Bakare Lasisi, who claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993.
However, the judge ruled that Ashimola was a victim of fraud and that Lasisi did not exist.
It was alleged that Ashimola had died in Nigeria in 2019 without leaving a will. A purported death certificate was presented in court as evidence, with claims that sightings of Ashimola afterward were cases of another woman impersonating her.
Addressing the court, Ashimola denied these claims, stating she was only “allegedly deceased” and described the death certificate as “false and fraudulent.” She further insisted that the Power of Attorney and property grant were “improperly obtained.”
“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” Deputy Master Linwood remarked, adding that the case involved “wide-ranging allegations of fraud, forgery, impersonation, and intimidation.”
The judge posed key questions to resolve the matter:
- Is June Ashimola alive?
- Is the person claiming to be June Ashimola her?
- Did Mr. Lasisi marry June Ashimola?
Ashimola’s absence from court due to visa challenges led to some aspects of her testimony being deemed “unsatisfactory.” However, her identity was ultimately confirmed through passport photographs.
After reviewing evidence, including testimony from Tony Ashikodi, who previously served three years in prison in 1996 for obtaining property by deception, the judge concluded Ashikodi had orchestrated the fraud and attempted to mislead the court.
The court found that Ashimola’s alleged husband, Lasisi, did not exist, despite multiple emails he reportedly sent.
“I find Ms. Ashimola is alive and that the Death Certificate was forged and/or fraudulently produced,” the judge ruled.
He added that Ashimola’s alleged death was part of Ashikodi’s attempt to seize her property. The judge rejected claims that Ashimola had been married to Lasisi, stating the marriage certificate was also fraudulent.
“I do not accept Mr. Lasisi exists or if he does, is aware of his identity being used,” the judge said, ruling that the Power of Attorney linked to Mr. Lasisi and Ms. Samuel was fraudulent.
Due to these findings, the Power of Attorney grant was officially revoked.
The court was informed that both parties had already incurred legal costs exceeding £150,000, which could potentially surpass the property’s equity value.
