Southwark Council Seizes Social Housing Flat Occupied by Sierra Leone’s First Lady

Southwark Council confirmed on 11 June 2026 that it had repossessed a two-bedroom council flat in Walworth, London, previously registered to Fatima Jabbe-Bio. The council said a twelve-month housing-investigations inquiry found the tenancy breached the rule that council homes must be the tenant’s principal residence. The property will be reassigned to a family on the waiting list.

The Guardian

London’s social-housing system requires tenants to occupy council homes as their main residence. Rising demand, long waiting lists and increasing temporary accommodation have prompted authorities to target alleged tenancy fraud. In Southwark, more than 18,000 households await social housing and about 4,000 live in temporary shelters. The council reports recovering 107 properties deemed in breach over the past two years.

The Guardian

Fatima Jabbe-Bio, first lady of Sierra Leone and spouse of President Julius Maada Bio, has been on the tenancy since 2007. Reginald Popoola serves as Southwark’s executive member for council homes. Southwark Council is the local authority conducting the investigation.

The Guardian

Waiting-list households in Southwark exceed 18,000; temporary-accommodation households number around 4,000; 107 properties have been recovered in the last two years.

The Guardian

Reginald Popoola confirmed the council’s possession of the flat after a year-long investigation and stressed the aim to restore the property to its original purpose of providing secure housing for eligible applicants. The council indicated the flat will be allocated to a waiting-list family but released no detailed findings.

The Guardian

A Times investigation reported that neighbours rarely saw Jabbe-Bio at the Walworth flat, questioning whether it served as her principal residence. Critics argue that retaining the flat while primarily residing in Sierra Leone’s presidential lodge may constitute misuse of council housing. Local residents corroborated the infrequent sightings.

The Guardian

Southwark Council has not disclosed the specific evidence or conclusions that led to the tenancy’s termination, leaving a gap in public understanding of the investigation.

The Guardian

• “We can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our housing investigations team.” — Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes

The Guardian

• “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,” — Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes

The Guardian

• “My children are all British citizens. I’m paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime.” — Fatima Jabbe-Bio, first lady of Sierra Leone

The Guardian

The council intends to reassign the flat to a waiting-list family within weeks. Authorities say tenancy compliance will remain under close scrutiny as London seeks to address housing shortages and curb alleged fraud.

The Guardian