The United Kingdom government has released a list of unclaimed estates belonging to deceased individuals, including 58 Nigerians. These estates, termed “Bona Vacantia,” become property of the Crown when someone dies intestate (without a will) and without known heirs.
The list provides details such as names, dates of birth and death, places of death, marital status, and Bona Vacantia reference numbers. For instance, Arbel Aai’Lotta’Qua Abouarh, a widower from Nigeria, passed away on February 5, 1998, in Chiswick, London. Another example is Adenike Adebiyi, a spinster from Hackney, London, whose date of death is unspecified.
Individuals who believe they may be entitled to any of these estates are encouraged to consult the full list and take appropriate steps to claim them. The UK government’s Bona Vacantia division provides guidance on the claims process, which typically involves proving kinship to the deceased.
This development highlights the importance of maintaining updated wills and ensuring that estate plans are in place to prevent assets from becoming unclaimed.
