June Ashimola, a Nigerian woman, won a UK legal battle after being wrongfully declared dead in 2019. She successfully challenged a convicted fraudster’s claim on her £350,000 property. The court ruled that the death certificate was forged and dismissed fraudulent marriage claims against her. Her rightful ownership was restored, emphasizing the need for vigilance against fraud and identity theft.
June Ashimola, a 55-year-old Nigerian woman, has successfully won a legal case in the UK after being mistakenly declared deceased. Via video link from Nigeria, she presented her case before the High Court to prevent a convicted fraudster from illegally trying to claim her property valued at £350,000 situated in Woolwich, southeast London.
Declared dead in February 2019, Ashimola’s situation spawned a complex legal struggle over her estate. During the proceedings, she communicated through Deputy Master John Linwood, revealing her ordeal as a victim of fraud. Power of attorney over her estate had been wrongfully granted to Ruth Samuel, who acted on behalf of an individual named Bakare Lasisi, who falsely claimed marriage to Ashimola in 1993.
The court learned of Ashimola’s departure from the UK to Nigeria in 2018 and noted that she had never returned since. The fraudulent maneuvers intensified as Samuel was awarded power of attorney in October 2022 based on fictitious claims made by Lasisi. The court unveiled that Tony Ashikodi, a convicted fraudster, was behind the scheme to seize Ashimola’s home, which was characterized by forgery and intimidation.
Deputy Master Linwood denoted this case as being particularly unusual, stating, “This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive.” He characterized Ashikodi’s actions as a long-running campaign for control over the property, highlighting the extensive fraud involved.
Due to visa complications, Ashimola could not appear at the court physically; however, her identity was validated through passport photographs. After careful consideration of the evidence presented, Linwood conclusively ruled that Ashimola was alive and that her death certificate had been forged. He dismissed the legitimacy of the supposed marriage to Lasisi, asserting that there was no credible evidence supporting the existence of either Lasisi or his claimed marriage to Ashimola.
The judge condemned Ashikodi’s attempts to deceive the court and found both Ashikodi and Samuel complicit in the production of the fraudulent documents. He declared that the documents presented lacked provenance and bolstered his ruling by stating, “The death certificate was not proven to the necessary standard.”
Consequently, the power of attorney granted to Samuel was revoked, restoring Ashimola’s rightful ownership of her £350,000 property. The court also revealed that legal costs for both parties could exceed £150,000, potentially surpassing the property’s equity value.
The victorious outcome for June Ashimola underscores the importance of legal recognition and authentication in property disputes, particularly in cases involving fraud. Her situation highlights the serious implications of identity theft and the judicial system’s role in restoring rightful ownership. With the court ruling reinstating her ownership, Ashimola can secure her future and safeguard her hard-earned property.
Original Source: osundefender.com
