A Nigerian woman identified as June Ashimola, who was falsely declared dead has made a dramatic virtual appearance in a UK court to prevent a convicted fraudster from seizing her £350,000 home in London.
The 55-year-old was supposedly declared dead in Nigeria in February 2019, sparking a bizarre legal battle over her estate.
However, in a surprising twist, she appeared via videolink before High Court judge John Linwood, insisting she was alive and had been the victim of a fraudulent scheme.
The court heard that Ms Ashimola had left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned. During her absence, fraudsters took advantage of her supposed “death” to obtain power of attorney over her estate, which was primarily a house in Woolwich, southeast London.
The fraudulent claim was allegedly spearheaded by Tony Ashikodi, a man with a criminal record who had been jailed in 1996 for obtaining property by deception.
Power of attorney was granted in October 2022 to Ruth Samuel on behalf of one Bakare Lasisi, who claimed to have married Ms Ashimola in 1993.
However, the judge ruled that Ms Ashimola had been a victim of fraud, adding that Mr Lasisi did not even exist.
“It was claimed Ms Ashimola died in Nigeria in 2019 without leaving a will, and a copy of her alleged death certificate was produced at the High Court,” Deputy Master Linwood said.
He noted that some individuals had even suggested that recent sightings of Ms Ashimola were actually a case of someone “masquerading” as her.
But appearing before the court, Ms Ashimola dismissed the claims, saying she was only “allegedly deceased” and that the documents presented were “false and fraudulent.”
“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” the judge remarked.
He described the case as a long-running battle waged by Tony Ashikodi to gain control of the property through a web of fraud, forgery, and impersonation.
One of the key issues the court had to determine was whether the woman appearing before it was truly June Ashimola.
The judge expressed frustration that she could not appear in person due to visa difficulties, which left aspects of her evidence unsatisfactory.
However, after examining passport photographs and listening to her testimony, he ruled in her favor.
“I find Ms Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained or produced or concocted,” the judge said.
He concluded that the fraudulent scheme was orchestrated by Tony Ashikodi in an attempt to take over Ms Ashimola’s property.
“The person who appeared before me and identified herself as Ms Ashimola was physically like her photographs in each passport,” the judge said.
He also dismissed the claim that Ms Ashimola had been married to Bakare Lasisi, stating, “I do not accept Mr Lasisi exists, or if he does, that he was aware his identity was being used.”
He further ruled that the power of attorney obtained by Mr Lasisi and Ms Samuel was fraudulent.
“The death certificate was not proven to the necessary standard. Only a copy was produced, with no evidence of its authenticity. I find it was forged and/or fraudulently produced or concocted,” he said.
Following these findings, the judge revoked the grant of power of attorney.
The court also heard that the legal costs in the case had soared to more than £150,000, an amount that could surpass the value of the disputed property.
