Some 56 Nigerians whose relatives could not be traced upon their death will by December 2022 forfeit their multi-million-pound properties to the British Government.

They include Mark N’wogo, said to have been born in Sapele, Delta state, and died on December 9, 1992 in Surrey, United Kingdom but for almost 30 years now, the assets he left behind have remained unclaimed.

Another is Victor Adedapo Olufemi Fani-Kayode, said to have died on August 15, 2001 in Birmingham.

Also on the list are Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh that died on February 5, 1998 in Chiswick, London; Paul (Akinola) Bernard, who was born in Lagos and died in London on October 12, 2008; and John Olaolu Bankole, born in Ibadan on August 2, 1958, but died in London on April 27, 2010.

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 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.

A list of unclaimed estates held by UK’s Treasury Solicitor and last updated on September 8, 2022 said the estates of the 56 dead Nigerians in Britain would be forfeited by the end of this year if no one comes forward to claim them.

BusinessDay, a Lagos newspaper which broke the news on September 16, quoted Olaitan Akinnubi, a lawyer based in Lagos, as saying: “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.”

Barrister Akinnubi said that a lesson to be drawn from this, is the importance of writing a will while one is alive. Once a person starts acquiring properties (real or personal), they should start thinking of writing a will, he advised, noting that this would help their family, friends and loved ones identify their assets and administer them accordingly upon their death.

“Who knows if the relatives of any of these deceased are languishing in poverty while their dad, brother, son, etc has property of value in the UK? If these assets are not claimed after a long period of time, they become bona vacantia i.e. goods or assets without an owner; and they eventually are taken over by the Crown or government in the UK,” the lawyer said.