A 55-year-old Nigerian woman, June Ashimola, has won a legal battle in the United Kingdom after being falsely declared dead, reclaiming her £350,000 home in Woolwich, southeast London.
Ashimola, who appeared via video link from Nigeria, told the UK High Court that she was very much alive and a victim of an elaborate scam. She had reportedly left the UK for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned since.
Her false death was recorded in February 2019, leading to a dispute over her estate. The court heard that power of attorney over her property was granted to Ms. Ruth Samuel on behalf of a man named Bakare Lasisi, who claimed to have married Ashimola in 1993. However, the judge ruled that the marriage was fake and that Lasisi did not exist.
Deputy Master John Linwood described the case as “a web of fraud, forgery, impersonation, and intimidation,” revealing that the scheme was masterminded by Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster who served three years in prison in 1996 for obtaining property by deception.
“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” Linwood stated.
He further explained, “The root of this claim is a long-running battle or campaign waged by a Mr. Tony Ashikodi for control and/or ownership of the property.”
Despite facing visa issues that stopped her from appearing in person, Ashimola’s identity was confirmed through her passport photos. The judge dismissed all claims against her estate.
“I find Ms. Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained or produced or concocted,” Linwood ruled.
He added, “Her alleged death was part of Mr. Tony Ashikodi’s attempts to wrest control of the property from her.”
The court found that both Ashikodi and Samuel were either directly involved in creating the fake documents or knowingly used them to try and take Ashimola’s home.
“I find that the probate power of attorney submitted supposedly by Mr. Lasisi and Ms. Samuel was a fraudulently produced or concocted document,” the judge said.
He concluded, “The death certificate was not proven to the necessary standard in that only a copy was produced. There was no evidence before me that it was a genuine document evidencing a real event. I find it was forged and/or fraudulently produced or concocted. The persons who relied upon it namely Mr. Tony Ashikodi and Ms. Samuel were either directly involved in its production or else knew it was false.”
Following the ruling, the fraudulent power of attorney was revoked, ensuring Ashimola retained ownership of her home.
The court also heard that legal fees for both sides had risen above £150,000, an amount that could be more than the property’s equity value.
