In January, Ciroma Adekunle (pseudonym) found himself in a desperate situation. His UK visa was nearing expiration, and he needed a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to regularise his stay. That desperation led him to part with £1,500 — money he now regrets sending.
Adekunle said he was referred to Akinbamidele Akinnuga, a self-described travel consultant and the purported head of KB Consulting. Akinnuga promised to secure a CoS from Barnsley within three weeks and requested an upfront deposit of £1,000. Driven by urgency, Adekunle transferred £1,500 instead.
“He said he had access to a CoS in Barnsley and could help me get it quickly,” Adekunle explained. “He sent me a UK bank account under a Zimbabwean name — I suspect it belongs to his wife. Two weeks later, he said he hadn’t secured the CoS but asked me to remain patient.”
By the third week, Akinnuga claimed that all available sponsorships required a £2,000 deposit and that once obtained, Adekunle would need to pay an additional £7,000 to complete the process. Adekunle declined, calling the demand unreasonable.
Soon after, the consultant stopped responding to calls and messages. “At the end of the third week, I asked for a refund. He requested my account details but then started stalling. First, he said the money hadn’t entered. Later, he accused me of cancelling the deal abruptly,” Adekunle said.
Efforts to reach Akinnuga failed. He blocked Adekunle’s UK number. When contacted using a Nigerian number, Akinnuga blocked that too. “I haven’t heard from him since January. He flatly told me he couldn’t refund the money,” Adekunle added.
When contacted for clarification, Akinnuga stated he would only refund £500, then abruptly ended the conversation. When asked whether this condition had been outlined in any prior agreement or terms and conditions, he claimed it had — but refused to provide evidence and subsequently blocked the inquiry.
Conclusion:
Adekunle’s experience highlights the risks many migrants face when dealing with unlicensed agents offering job or visa assistance. Without formal agreements or oversight, victims of such scams often have limited options for redress.
Source: FIJ.NG
