The First Lady of Sierra Leone who left the UK in 2018 is believed to still be renting a council flat in south London, according to reports. It is claimed that records show Fatima Jabbe-Bio registered to vote at the two-bedroom flat in Southwark several times since 2009, with Southwark Council confirming the property has had the same tenant since 2007 – indicating Ms Jabbe-Bio continues to rent the flat.
The Times reports the 44-year-old, who is said to have an impressive property portfolio in Africa, appears to be breaching council housing rules which state that such a property be a tenant’s sole or principal residence. It comes amid a social housing crisis in the UK, with London particularly affected. More than 336,000 households in the capital were on waiting lists for social housing in 2024.
Ms Jabbe-Bio was born in Sierra Leone and came to London to pursue a career in modelling and acting where she met her now husband, Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone.
They are said to have married in 2013 and lived in the flat in Southwark until he was elected in 2018 when they moved to the luxurious presidential mansion in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.
Neighbours of the property in south London say Ms Jabbe-Bio visited the flat sporadically and as recently as last autumn.
One neighbour told The Times: “Last year in October or November, she came with these executive cars, black Mazdas, and entered the house.”
It is not clear why the First Lady has retained the tenancy of the flat.
Neighbours reportedly recognised Tigda Soley, Ms Jabbe-Bio’s daughter from a previous marriage, in pictures shown to them.
The 19-year-old was registered to vote at the address in 2023, according to reports, with one neighbour saying she occasionally visited to collect post addressed to the President and First Lady, while another suggested she stayed at the flat when visiting London for social outings.
The Times published what it said was an image of letters addressed to the couple outside the front door of the flat.
The average council rent for a two-bedroom flat in Southwark is said to be around £560 a month.
Southwark council refused to comment on individuals but a spokesman told The Times: “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.”
Neither the first lady, President Bio nor Tigda Soley reportedly responded to requests for comment.