Mixed reactions as UK lists 58 dead Nigerians with unclaimed assets

Reactions have trailed the list of 58 deceased Nigerians with unclaimed assets in the United Kingdom, who were mostly bachelors, spinsters, widowers, and widows. The marital status of others were not specified except one person categorised as husband.

PUNCH Diaspora Tales gathered that the UK government, through the Solicitor’s Treasury, published 58 names of late Nigerians whose estates have been classified under ‘Bona Vacantia.’ The list included their names, death dates, places of death, marital statuses, and Bona Vacantia reference numbers.

Among the Nigerians listed was Adenike Adebiyi, with an unknown death date, from Hackney, London N1, identified as a spinster with BV reference BV21003032/1, and Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, who died on 5 February 1998 in Chiswick, London W4, listed as a widower with BV reference BV984930/1.

Others included Akanni Jeremiah Adejumo, who passed away on 31 March 2017 in Muswell Hill, London N10 (BV21711076/1), and Solomon Adekanmibi, who died on 31 January 2021 in Colchester, Essex (BV22207473/1), both with unspecified marital statuses.

The full list of 58 Nigerians includes detailed records such as dates of death ranging from 19 July 1995 (Julius Taiwo Akinyeye, Derby, Derbyshire, BV960071/1) to 24 May 2021 (Louisa Holmes, Cheam, Sutton, BV22201373/1), and locations spanning London, Birmingham, Leeds, and other UK regions.

This development has sparked discussions among Nigerians and other nationals, with many taking to social media to share their views on various issues, including mortgage, tax, and failure to write wills.

In another twist, some people blamed the mass relocation of Nigerians and other Africans in search of greener pastures as the reason for people dying without legally handing over their assets to family members.

Speaking about the incident, a London-based Nigerian consultant solicitor, Efuru Nwapa, said Nigerians fell victim to this because they failed to embrace the culture of writing their wills to ensure the proper handing over of assets to next of kin.

She said such incidents will always happen when foreign nationals refuse to legally administer their physical, material, and financial assets to the care of their families before they die.

She stated, “When people fail to make a will and properly engage in estate planning, this can happen. Many Nigerians do not believe in writing their wills despite living in an environment where this is very important, and so if there are no beneficiaries of the estate, the assets of the deceased will fall to the Crown. If people have no will and also no relatives or people to administer their estates after death, as they died intestate, this will also happen.”

Speaking on the development, an X user, @beebee_78, commented, “The reason a lot of these properties are unclaimed could be attributed to inheritance taxes and also unpaid and outstanding taxes/mortgage payments.” The user, however, advised, “Put your properties in a living trust and also insure them, approximately.”

“Hundreds of unclaimed estates reveal untold stories of African migration, wealth, and family ties left behind. Thousands of people die every day in the United Kingdom without leaving a will or identifying next of kin, and among them are many Nigerians and other Africans whose estates—ranging from property to savings—remain unclaimed,” wrote @sierraeyesalone.

@Jaynepha said, “I hope Nigerians in diaspora—not only Nigerians in the UK—will wake up. You don’t acquire all these assets only to have them unclaimed after you kpai (die) simply because you didn’t allow your children or relatives to know what you have.”

“As a UK resident, I know of companies called Heir Hunters who track down potential relatives and offer help to claim assets, sometimes for a fee or a percentage of the estate. Some people lose out on inheritance because they are unaware or miss legal deadlines. Unclaimed properties can become abandoned or fall into disrepair, affecting local communities,” added @IEnakhena.

According to the user, “Family members who believe they have a claim can apply with legal proof of relationship.”