A shocking revelation has emerged as hundreds of estates belonging to deceased African migrants—many of them Nigerians—remain unclaimed in the United Kingdom, raising questions about lost family wealth and the role of the UK government in handling these assets.
The latest *bona vacantia* (ownerless goods) list, updated daily by UK authorities, includes over 170 cases linked to African-born individuals, with Nigerians making up a significant portion. With no wills or next of kin identified, these assets—ranging from properties to savings—are now in the custody of the British Crown.
For many migrants, the UK represented a land of opportunity where they worked hard to build wealth. However, the lack of estate planning means their fortunes risk being permanently lost, leaving families back in Africa unaware and powerless.
Cases like that of Adenike Adebiyi, who died in Hackney in 2004, and Solomon Adekanmibi, who passed away in Colchester in 2021, illustrate the devastating consequences of dying intestate. Critics argue that the UK government should do more to trace families rather than quietly absorbing these assets.
As Nigerian families unknowingly lose millions in inheritance, some are questioning whether this is an unfortunate legal process or a system that disproportionately benefits the UK at the expense of African migrants.
