British Government Reveals Names Of Dead Nigerians With Unclaimed Properties, Estates

The British government has published the names of over 56 deceased Nigerians with reported unclaimed estates and other valuable assets.

The Government, in a statement published in its Treasury Solicitor website, said the listed unclaimed estates have a 30-year time limit from the date of death of the deceased, for claim of ownership.

While the values of the listed estates are not provided, only information about their deceased owners were published.

However, most of the deceased have little information on relatives to whom their assets may be transferred, and for those with available information, it is quite inadequate and hard to trace beneficiaries.

According to BusinessDay, the list which was last updated on September 8, 2022, identified one Mark Nwogo, who died on December 9, 1992, in Surrey, United Kingdom, as one of the oldest deceased Nigerians.

It said the assets he left behind have gone unclaimed for nearly 30 years, adding 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 unspecified family in Sapele, Delta State, but neither this individual nor any others had stepped forward to claim the deceased’s possessions.

Another familiar name on the list is Victor Adedapo Olufemi Fani-Kayode. The Birmingham City Council said he died on August 15, 2001 in Birmingham,

The list also includes a certain Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, who died on February 5, 1998, in Chiswick, London, and is 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 believed that he was born in Northern Nigeria around March 3, 1930, to 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 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 also died in August 2008.

He is believed to have a daughter from his first marriage, which ended around 1970.

Also listed is John Olaolu Bankole, who died in London on April 27, 2010. He was born in Ibadan on August 2, 1958.

The information available includes a Decree Absolute dissolving the deceased’s marriage on November 11, 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, River State, Charles Ayodele Aliu, who died on March 31, 2011, in Solihull, West Midlands, is said to “have a 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 in 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.

According to Akinnubi: “For the relatives of any such deceased person or any other person entitled to the estate of any of the listed deceased persons, it is advisable that they engage a Probate Solicitor or Practitioner in the UK to help and guide them through the process of obtaining letters of administration in respect of the deceased person’s Estate in the UK.”