London council flat of Sierra Leone’s First Lady seized

A social housing flat rented by Sierra Leone’s First Lady has been seized by a London council, reports The Guardian. Southwark council confirmed it had repossessed the two-bedroom home in Walworth previously occupied by Fatima Jabbe-Bio, whose tenancy was reported by the Times last year. Jabbe-Bio, who is married to Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, had been listed on the tenancy since 2007. She has divided her time between Sierra Leone and Britain since her husband was elected in 2018. Housing rules state that council properties should ordinarily be a tenant’s principal residence. The Times investigation raised questions about whether the flat met that requirement after neighbours said they rarely saw Jabbe-Bio. Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes, said: ‘We can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our housing investigations team.’ He said the flat would be handed to a family on the waiting list. The case drew widespread attention after reports 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, Jabbe-Bio defended keeping the flat, rejecting suggestions she had acted improperly. There is no suggestion Jabbe-Bio has been charged with any offence. The recovery of the property comes at a time of acute pressure on social housing in London, with growing waiting lists, rising homelessness and increasing demand for temporary accommodation.