The United Kingdom government has recently released the names and information of 6,743 dead persons who left unclaimed estates in the country.
Data from the government, which was updated on September 8, 2022, lists one Mark N’wogo among the 50 Nigerians affected. The Nigerians died between 1996 and 2021.
N’wogo, a Nigerian born in Sapele, Delta State, died on December 9, 1992, in Surrey, United Kingdom, but for almost 30 years now, the assets he left behind have remained unclaimed.
Sadly, in December, his assets will be forfeited to the British government.
N’wogo is said to have served in the navy, which listed his year of birth as 1926. FIJ also learned that he had a relative in Sapele, but no one has come forward to claim the assets.
The values of these assets are not disclosed, and they can only be claimed within 30 years from the date their owners died. Meanwhile, there is little information on relatives to whom the assets may be transferred.
Nigerians on the list include one Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, who died in Chiswick, London, on February 5, 1998. Information provided indicates that he likely got married in December 1959 and had four children from the marriage.
Arbel was born in Northern Nigeria on or about March 3, 1930, and his parents are said to be Alfred Hallim Abouarh and Addanue Abouarh nee Onwudachi. Information available also indicates that he had a now dead sister and a twin brother possibly living in Germany.
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There is also one 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. Marie also died in August 2008. He is believed to have had 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. Charles Ayodele Aliu, who died on March 31, 2011, in Solihull, West Midlands; Peter Benson who was born in Nigeria on June 6, 1973, and died in Stratford, London, on February 2, 2019; Sunny Eyo Edem, who died on September 16, 2011, in Fulham; William Kadry, who died on November 1, 2011, in Fulham; and Akanni Jeremiah Adejumo who was born on December 31, 1936, are also on the list among others.
The UK government, via its website, noted that entitled relatives of owners could claim the assets.
“If an entitled relative survived the deceased but has since died, that relative’s personal representative (the person legally entitled to deal with their estate) must make a claim to the deceased person’s estate,” the UK government noted.
