UK Lists 58 Unclaimed Nigerian Deceased: Mixed Reactions Emerge Internationally

Responses have followed the enumeration of 58 late Nigerian citizens with abandoned estates in the United Kingdom, where most were single men or women, divorcees, or those left widowed. For the remaining individuals, their marital statuses were unspecified save for one recorded as a spouse.

PUNCH Diaspora Tales It was gathered that the UK government, via the Solicitor’s Treasury, released a list containing 58 names of deceased Nigerian individuals whose estates fall under 'Bona Vacantia.' This compilation includes their names, dates of passing, locations where they died, marital status, and corresponding Bona Vacantia reference numbers.

Included among the list of Nigerians was Adenike Adebiyi, whose exact date of passing remains unspecified; she hailed from Hackney, London N1 and was noted as being single, bearing BV reference number BV21003032/1. Also mentioned was Arbel Aai'Lotta'Qua Abouarh, recorded as having passed away on February 5, 1998, in Chiswick, London W4, recognized as a widow with BV reference number BV984930/1.

Among those mentioned were Akanni Jeremiah Adejumo, who sadly passed away on March 31, 2017, in Muswell Hill, London N10 (reference number BV21711076/1), and Solomon Adekanmibi, who died on January 31, 2021, in Colchester, Essex (reference number BV22207473/1). Both individuals had unspecified marital statuses.

The complete roster of 58 Nigerians lists comprehensive details including death dates that stretch from 19 July 1995 (Julius Taiwo Akinyeye, Derby, Derbyshire, BV960071/1) all the way to 24 May 2021 (Louisa Holmes, Cheam, Sutton, BV22201373/1). The individuals come from various places across the UK, covering cities like London, Birmingham, Leeds, and others.

This progression has ignited conversations amongst Nigerians and individuals from other nationalities, leading numerous people to express their opinions on social media platforms regarding topics such as mortgages, taxes, and the neglect of drafting wills.

As an additional turn of events, certain individuals pointed fingers at the large-scale migration of Nigerians and other Africans seeking better opportunities as the cause for deaths occurring among those who failed to properly transfer their possessions to their relatives through legal means.

When discussing the incident, Efuru Nwapa—a Lagos-based Nigerian lawyer—stated that Nigerians were affected due to their failure to adopt the practice of drafting wills, which would have facilitated the smooth transfer of assets to their legal successors.

She stated that such occurrences are inevitable when individuals from abroad do not lawfully transfer ownership of their tangible possessions, resources, and monetary wealth to their relatives prior to passing away.

She said, "Failure to create a will and adequately plan one’s estate often leads to these issues. Numerous Nigerians refrain from drafting their wills even though such documents are crucial in our setting. Consequently, without designated heirs for the estate, the property of the deceased reverts to the government. Additionally, should individuals pass away without leaving behind either a will or anyone capable of managing their estates—thus dying intestate—the same outcome occurs."

Regarding the progress, an X user, @beebee_78, noted, "Many of these unowned assets might be due to inheritance taxes as well as unpaid and overdue taxes or mortgage payments." Nevertheless, they recommended, "Transfer your holdings into a living trust and ensure they are properly insured."

Hundreds of abandoned estates uncover hidden narratives of African migration, wealth, and familial connections that were overlooked. Every day, numerous individuals pass away in the UK without having a will or specifying their close relatives, including many Nigerians and other Africans for whom properties and savings remain unclaimed," noted @sierraeyesalone.

@Jaynepha stated, "I hope Nigerians living abroad—including those not just in the UK—will take notice. It would be unfortunate to accumulate all these possessions only for them to go unclaimed upon your demise simply because you did not share this information with your children or relatives."

"As a UK resident, I'm familiar with firms known as Heir Hunters, who seek out possible relatives and assist them in claiming assets, often charging a fee or taking a portion of the estate. Many individuals may be deprived of their inheritance due to ignorance or failing to meet legal time limits. Properties left unclaimed might end up neglected or deteriorate, impacting nearby neighborhoods," explained @IEnakhena.

As stated by the user, "Individuals who assert they have a valid claim may submit their application along with legal evidence of their familial connection."

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