March 12, 2025
By Adedoja Adesoji
A Nigerian woman, June Ashimola, appeared in a UK court via videolink from Nigeria, revealing an elaborate scam that falsely declared her dead.
The 55-year-old woman’s ordeal began in February 2019 when she was officially recorded as deceased, sparking a lengthy legal battle over her £350,000 London home.
The court heard that a convicted fraudster, Tony Ashikodi, orchestrated the scam, producing a false death certificate and using a woman to impersonate Ashimola.
Deputy Master John Linwood noted, “This is an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive.”
Ashimola confirmed her identity through passport photos, despite visa issues preventing her from attending the hearing in person.
The judge ultimately ruled in her favor, stating, “I find that Ms. Ashimola is alive and that the death certificate was forged and/or fraudulently obtained, produced, or fabricated.”
The court also determined that Ashimola’s supposed husband, Mr. Bakare Lasisi, did not exist, and that the marriage certificate was a fraudulent document.
As a result, the court revoked the grant related to the power of attorney, restoring Ashimola’s rightful ownership of her London home.
The legal battle has resulted in “disproportionate” costs exceeding £150,000.
However, this case shows the increasing sophistication of scams and the importance of vigilance in protecting one’s assets.
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in scams, with many individuals and organizations falling victim to these crimes.
