Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Jabbe-Bio, has lost her London social housing flat after a UK council seized it.
Southwark Council, a municipality in south London, told AnewZ it had taken possession of a two-bedroom property previously occupied by Jabbe-Bio following a 12 month investigation.
The council told Anewz that it hadn't evicted Jabbe-Bio, contrary to some media reports. There is no suggestion she has been charged with any criminal offence.
The 45-year-old, who is married to Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, had been renting the flat since 2007.
British newspaper The Times revealed last year that since her husband was elected in 2018, Jabbe-Bio has been splitting her time between the UK property and the West African country.
Jabbe-Bio defended keeping the flat in an interview with British public broadcaster the BBC in May, explaining that all her children were British citizens.
"I'm paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime,” she said.
Reginald Popoola, an elected local government official, said the social housing flat would be swiftly allocated to “a family in genuine housing need.”
“We can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our Housing Investigations Team.
“I look forward to bringing this council property back to its original purpose which is to provide a safe and secure home for people with legitimate housing need on the Council’s waiting list.”
The London borough of Southwark, which is home to around 307,600 people, has a severe housing crisis with more than 18,000 people waiting for social housing.
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