Council Repossesses Property in Walworth

Southwark council confirmed it had repossessed a two-bedroom home in Walworth that was previously occupied by Fatima Jabbe-Bio, the first lady of Sierra Leone. The property had been listed under her tenancy since 2007, as reported by the Times last year.

Tenancy Rules and Council Investigation

Jabbe-Bio, who is married to Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, has spent significant time in Britain since her husband was elected in 2018. Housing rules require that council properties be a tenant’s principal residence. The Times raised questions about whether the south London flat met that requirement after neighbours said they rarely saw Jabbe-Bio there.

Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes, stated, “We can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our housing investigations team.” He added that the flat would be given to a family on the waiting list. “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,” he said.

Response from Jabbe-Bio and Broader Housing Crisis

The case gained significant attention after reports surfaced that Jabbe-Bio had retained the tenancy despite living for much of the year in the presidential lodge in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In an interview with the BBC last month, she defended keeping the flat, rejecting suggestions she had acted improperly. The former model and actor said: “My children are all British citizens. I’m paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime.”

There is no indication that Jabbe-Bio has been charged with any offence. The recovery of the property coincides with a time of acute pressure on social housing in London, marked by growing waiting lists, rising homelessness, and increasing demand for temporary accommodation.

Southwark council figures show that more than 18,000 households are on the waiting list for social housing in the borough. About 4,000 households are living in temporary accommodation while awaiting a permanent home.

Local authorities have intensified efforts to tackle tenancy fraud and recover properties where tenancy agreements are being violated. The council said it investigated all allegations of tenancy fraud and unlawful occupation and had recovered 107 properties over the past two years. Southwark council did not disclose details of the results of its investigation into Jabbe-Bio’s tenancy.