A lavish ‘millionaire’s row’ dwelling has been central to a gripping authorized saga involving a former Lord Mayor and a businessman suspected of cash laundering.
Coun Abigail Marshall Katung, left, with husband Sunday Marshall Katung. | Leeds Metropolis Council. Ex (Picture: -)
The Nationwide Crime Company has lastly seized possession of a lavish “millionaires’ row” dwelling belonging to the first-ever African-born Lord Mayor of Leeds. Abigail Katung, 50, who’s married to a high-profile Nigerian Senator, should now hand over the posh mansion after investigators discovered it was purchased utilizing funds routed by a ‘black market’ switch system.
The previous Labour councillor has now misplaced her authorized combat with the UK legislation enforcement company answerable for tackling organised crime and drug trafficking and can now lose the posh dwelling in Leeds upmarket Alwoodley district of town she started shopping for in 2015. The NCA accepted title to the home on Sandmoor Drive – the most costly postcode within the West Yorkshire metropolis – in 2020, as a part of a £10 million civil restoration settlement with a businessman suspected of cash laundering offences. Mrs Katung was not celebration to the sooner proceedings, however had entered into an settlement with the earlier proprietor to buy the home in 2015. She paid him roughly £400,000 of the contracted £1m buy value.
The remaining sum was by no means offered however there isn’t any suggestion that Mrs Katung was conscious of the alleged criminality of the previous proprietor.
The case revealed, nevertheless, that the overwhelming majority of funds used for Mrs Katung’s deposit had been routed from Nigeria, the place she was born, to the UK through a casual worth switch system she described as a “parallel” or “black” market.
The choose famous that Mrs Katung disclosed little or no documentation in regards to the transfers into her firm’s UK checking account and that her husband, Sunday Marshall Katung, a State Senator in Nigeria who was alleged to be the supply of the monies routed to the UK, didn’t present a witness assertion.
In 2024, Mrs Marshall Katung grew to become the a hundred and thirtieth Lord Mayor of Leeds – and the primary particular person of African descent chosen to carry the celebrated title. Born in Nigeria, she moved to Leeds to check politics, and was elected to characterize Little London and Woodhouse ward in 2019.
Her husband, Sunday Marshall Katung, 64, is a lawyer who has served because the Senator Representing Kaduna South Senatorial District since 2023. He was beforehand a member of the Home of Representatives of Nigeria representing Jaba/Zangon Kataf Federal constituency of Kaduna State.
Leave a Reply