The United Kingdom (UK) has published data from a list of unclaimed estates and assets involving some people of Nigerian descent.
No relative has come forward to claim properties and money left behind in banks by the deceased, years after their death.
It is belìeved values of the estates and assets run into millions of Pound Sterling and Euro.
According to the data, “as many as 56 dead people of Nigerian descent” reportedly left unclaimed estates in the United Kingdom.
One of the oldest identified Nigerians, identified as Mark N’wogo, died on December 9, 1992, in Surrey, United Kingdom, but the assets he left behind have gone unclaimed for nearly 30 years, which means that his properties would be surrendered to the British government by December, 2022.
He was believed to have served in the Navy, which gave his birth year as 1926, and to have an unnamed family in Sapele, Delta State but neither this individual nor any others had stepped forward to claim the deceased’s possessions (whatever value they may have now).
According to an examination of UK government data from the list of unclaimed estates held by the Treasury Solicitor and last updated on September 8, 2022, N’wogo is one of 56 Nigerians officially recorded to have died in the UK in the last 30 years with assets still unclaimed.
Another name on the list is Victor Adedapo Olufemi Fani-Kayode, who is alleged to have died on August 15, 2001 in Birmingham, with the Birmingham City Council identified as the informant.
The Treasury Solicitor issued a list of unclaimed estates that had recently been referred but had not yet been administered, as well as past instances that had been administered but had not yet been claimed within the time constraints for doing so. Estates with a 30-year time limit from the date of death are exempted.
For most of the deceased, there is little information on relatives to whom their assets may be transferred, and those with available information, it is quite scanty and hard to trace beneficiaries.
Another name is Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh that died on February 5, 1998 in Chiswick, London and thought to have different variations in the spelling of his name. Information on file indicates that he may have been married in December 1959 (place unknown) and had four children from the marriage.
It is further stated he was born in Northern Nigeria on or about the 3rd March 1930 and his parents are said to be Alfred Hallim Abouarh and Addanue Abouarh (nee Onwudachi).
Information on file also indicates that he had a sister (deceased) and a twin brother (possibly living in Germany).
There is also a Paul (Akinola) Bernard who was born in Lagos and died in London on October 12, 2008.
Available information suggests he married a second wife, Marie Vidarte de Castro, in 1970, but she also died in August 2008.
He is believed to have a daughter from his first marriage which ended around 1970.
Born in Ibadan on August 2, 1958, John Olaolu Bankole died in London on April 27, 2010. Information available includes a Decree Absolute dissolving the deceased’s marriage on 11 November 2002, while his marriage certificate states that his father’s name is Oladipupo Bankole.
While Enwukwe Graham Kwedi Edde, who died on January 6, 2011 in London is only known to have been born in Diobu, Rivers State, Charles Ayodele Aliu, who died on March 31, 2011 in Solihull, West Midlands is said to “have possible cousin in Nigeria”.
Sunny Eyo Edem, who died on September 16, 2011 in Fulham is believed to have a “possible son and relatives in Calabar, Nigeria”.
Also, William Kadry, who died on November 1, 2011 in Fulham, is said to have been born in Iponri, Lagos State, and his father, Akanni Kadiri, died in 1941, while his mother, Muniratu Kadiri, died 1958.
Recent additions to the list include Solomon Adekanmibi who died on January 31, 2021 in Colchester, Essex; Eugene Bucknor, who died on March 2, 2021 in Brockley, London; Jeff Adhekeh, who died on March 12, 2021 in South Kensington, London and Louisa Holmes, who died on May 24, 2021 in Cheam Sutton.
It was learned that relatives of the deceased can only lay claim to the estates and assets through Letters of Administration to be obtained through the assistance of legal practitioners based in UK.
