FIJ
June Ashimola, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman, has appeared in a UK High Court via video link to stop Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, from taking over her £350,000 London home.
Before Ashimola’s appearance, Ashikodi and his associates had in February 2019 falsely claimed the lady died in Nigeria and this subsequently led to a long-running battle for her estate.
The Nigerian woman made the move before High Court judge John Linwood to disprove the false claim, declaring that she was very much alive and was a victim of a scam.
After falsely declaring her dead, Ashikodi and his associates had been granted power of attorney over her estate and this consisted principally of a house worth £350,000.
Ashimola had left Britain for Nigeria in 2018 and had not returned ever since.
In October 2022, power of attorney over the estate was given to one Ruth Samuel on behalf of one Bakare Lasisi, who claimed he married Ashimola in 1993.
It was later discovered that Samuel was Ashikodi’s associate and Lasisi was a fictitious person who never existed.
Ashikodi and his associates claimed Ashimola had died without leaving a will. They also went ahead to present a “death certificate” at the High Court while attempting to lay claim to her property.
Ashimola, during her appearance, told the court that the death certificate was false and fraudulent, and that the grant relating to her estate and a house in Woolwich, southeast London, had been improperly obtained.
“This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive,” Judge Linwood said.
“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.
“Ms Ashimola left the UK for Nigeria in about October 2018 and has not returned since. This claim involves wide-ranging allegations of fraud, forgery, impersonation and intimidation…
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