A social housing flat rented by Sierra Leone\u2019s first lady has been seized by a London council.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n Jabbe-Bio, who is married to Sierra Leone\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Housing rules state that council properties should ordinarily be a tenant\u2019s principal residence. The Times investigation raised questions about whether the south London flat met that requirement after neighbours said they rarely saw Jabbe-Bio.<\/p>\n Announcing the recovery of the home, Reginald Popoola, Southwark\u2019s executive member for council homes, said: \u201cWe can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our housing investigations team.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the flat would be handed to a family on the waiting list. \u201cI 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\u2019s waiting list,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In an interview with the BBC last month, Jabbe-Bio defended keeping the flat, rejecting suggestions she had acted improperly. The former model and actor said: \u201cMy children are all British citizens. I\u2019m paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime.\u201d<\/p>\n There is no suggestion Jabbe-Bio has been charged with any offence.<\/p>\n The recovery of the property comes at a time of acute pressure on social housing in London<\/a>, with growing waiting lists, rising homelessness and increasing demand for temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n In Southwark alone, more than 18,000 households are on the waiting list for social housing, council figures show. About 4,000 households are living in temporary accommodation while waiting for a permanent home.<\/p>\n