Nigerian Woman Appears In UK Court To Prove She Is Alive Amid Probate Dispute.
A Nigerian-born woman, June Ashimola, has made a startling court appearance in the United Kingdom to disprove claims of her death, bringing an end to a long-running probate dispute.
Ashimola, who was declared dead in 2019 without leaving a will, had her £350,000 estate granted to Ruth Samuel on behalf of a man named Bakare Lasisi, who allegedly married her in 1993. However, suspicions arose when Ashimola was reportedly seen alive in Nigeria, leading to questions about the authenticity of her death certificate.
Despite Samuel and Lasisi dismissing the reports as mistaken identity, Ashimola’s recent court appearance via video call provided undeniable proof of her existence. She presented a copy of her recently expired international passport, reinforcing her claim.
Court Rules Death Certificate and Marriage Documents Fraudulent
Presiding over the case, Judge John Linwood described the situation as “an unusual probate claim in that the deceased says she is very much alive.” He further ruled that Ashimola’s death certificate lacked authenticity, as only a copy was produced, with no verifiable provenance.
Additionally, questions surrounding her supposed marriage to Lasisi led the judge to conclude that their marriage certificate was “a concocted or fraudulent document.” Linwood even cast doubt on Lasisi’s existence, stating that if he were real, he might not have been aware that his identity was being used.
Fraudulent Scheme Linked to Convicted Criminal
Investigations into the case revealed a connection to Tony Ashikodi, a man previously jailed for three years in 1996 for property fraud. Judge Linwood asserted that Ashikodi had “orchestrated” the fraudulent claim to Ashimola’s estate.
With the case now resolved, Ashimola’s reappearance has not only cleared her name but also exposed a sophisticated attempt at deception. The ruling serves as a strong warning against fraudulent probate claims and identity theft.
