A cleric, Moses Igbekele, (not real name), has allegedly been duped of N32,500,000 by an agent under the pretense of procuring him a work placement and Certificate of Sponsorship to the United Kingdom.
The cleric, said he was introduced to a man who promised to hire him as a healthcare worker in his company in the UK. He said the agent claimed the man’s company was a subsidiary of a neighbourhood healthcare owned by his wife, who is said to be a registered medical practitioner in the UK.
Igbekele said he deposited £33,800 into the agent’s account in 2022 after checking the status online and not suspecting anything fraudulent. He said both the man and the agent had since refused to pick up his calls and respond to other means of communication.
This is just as two agents, simply identified as Timothy and Kayson, are currently being tried for allegedly defrauding about 150 people over the issuance of fake Australian visas and other related matters.
A victim Daniel Okwudiri said he was introduced to an agent who promised to get him a USA visa and work permit, in addition to a caregiver’s job on arrival.
According to Okwudiri, he paid N3,835,500 into the agent’s account in Oct. 2020, but the agent failed to either fulfil the promise or return his money.
He said the agent is currently standing trial on the matter. A businesswoman, Mrs Ruth Adebimpe, also a subagent in procuring travelling papers, ticketing and booking of accommodation in the UK, described her ordeal in the hands of co-agents as depressing.
Adebimpe said she met another agent, identified as Eze, who defrauded her and her client in August 2022 through another anonymous agent.
According to her, she saw the fraudulent agent’s advert on a Telegram group and checked through his website, which claimed he had an office in Abuja. “After all talks, discussions, persuasions and assurances, Mr Eze assured us that his office can procure a Certificate of Sponsorship and work placement for my client, who intends to work in the UK.”
