Sierra Leone’s first lady is still listed as the tenant of a south London council flat, despite having lived in a luxury mansion for the last seven years and owning several properties in Africa, it has been alleged.
Former model and actress Fatima Jabbe-Bio, 44, has been primarily based in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, since her husband, Julius Maada Bio became president of the country in 2018.
The couple live in a presidential lodge on sprawling grounds in the hills above the city, which boasts a swimming pool, tennis court and helipad.
However, records show that Jabbe-Bio – who was born in Sierra Leone – has listed her two-bedroom council flat address on the electoral register several times since 2009.
Southwark Council has also confirmed there has been no change of tenant since 2007, The Times reported.
It is also understood that the president’s wife, who has appeared in a number of low-budget Nigerian films, registered a company at that address in 2008.
According to Southwark Council’s own guidelines, to be included on the housing register an individual must prove that they have lived in Southwark continuously for the past five years, or that they work in Southwark and have a housing need, or they have served in the regular armed forces within five years of the date of the application.
Additionally, a person cannot be included on the housing register if they own their own home or other residential accommodation.
Sierra Leone’s first lady Fatima Jabbe-Bio is still listed as the tenant of a south London council flat despite having lived in a luxury mansion for the last seven years, it has been claimed
Former model and actress Fatima Jabbe-Bio, seen paying her respects to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, has been primarily based in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown since 2018
Records show that Jabbe-Bio – who was born in Sierra Leone – has listed her two-bedroom council flat address on the electoral register several times since 2009. Pictured: London
Housing regulations also require that such a property is the tenant’s only or principal residence.
Yet this does not seem to be the case for Jabbe-Bio, according to a report published today by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which claims that the first lady owns an extensive portfolio in Africa.
This includes two villas in the Gambia, a flat in a luxury estate and an entire apartment building.
Jabbe-Bio met her husband in London in 2012, after Maada Bio had secured the presidential nomination of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, the country’s main opposition party. The couple married a year later.
Maada Bio, 60, formerly served as a brigadier during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s. The pair resided at the council flat until 2018, when Maada Bio was elected as president.
Neighbours have reportedly seen Jabbe-Bio return on visits to the flat in Southwark, and claim Tigda Soley, her daughter from a previous marriage, has collected post addressed to her mother and the president.
President Maada Bio, pictured with King Charles III earlier this year, married in 2013
The presidential couple, seen at the funeral of Pope Francis last month, lived in the south London flat until he was elected in 2018
The First Lady’s property portfolio in Africa is said to include this villa in Bijilo, in Gambia
Jabbe Bio is also said to have bought this four-storey apartment building in Bijilo, Gambia
In February 2024, the First Lady bought this villa in Bijilo, Gambia for $44,000
In January, it was revealed that the total number of households waiting for social housing in London was 336,366 – the highest level for more than a decade.
A spokesman for Southwark Council said: ‘Social housing tenants have a right to stay in their homes regardless of income, unless they fail to meet the obligations in their tenancy agreement.
‘Where this is in doubt, we perform regular checks and investigations to determine whether those obligations are being met.’
MailOnline has contacted Southwark Council, Jabbe-Bio and President Bio for comment.
