A beverage distributor based in Festac, Lagos State, has accused Korede Adeboyejo, a visa agent, of absconding after collecting N9.7 million for a visa processing arrangement.
The distributor, who wished to remain anonymous, told FIJ that he began dealing with Adeboyejo in 2022 after seeing an advertisement for his services.
“We spoke on the phone after I saw the advert. During that period, I had one pending visa that needed approval. He helped me get the status of the visa, so I concluded he was genuine,” the source told FIJ.
He said that Adeboyejo suggested a job offer-based visa route, which seemed like the best of the options before him. He also said Adeboyejo told him the package was from Oxfordbridge Tours and Hospitality, a travel agency, not directly from him. He claimed Adeboyejo told him he would be held liable if the plan went wrong.
Receipt showing Adeboyejo’s transfer to Oxfordbridge Tours and Hospitality with the source’s family name as the remarks.
After much convincing and making a plan for them to pay in instalments, the distributor and his wife made payments directly to Adeboyejo’s account. Between March 15, 2023, and May 31, 2023, the distributor and his wife paid N9.7 million.
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The process seemed fine until the distributor and his wife attempted to schedule the medical examinations required for the visa process.
“When he gave us the date for medicals, my wife’s passport was about to expire, so we renewed it. After the renewal, he complained that the name change on her passport would distort the medical process and that we couldn’t proceed on the scheduled date,” he explained.
The distributor said Adeboyejo went mute after that incident and would not contact him until he secured a date at the medical centre by himself. This, he said, was when he began to think he may have been scammed.
After completing the medicals, the distributor informed Adeboyejo and asked about the next steps. But Adeboyejo told him to pay the remaining fee.
Receipt showing Adeboyejo’s transfer to Oxfordbridge Tours and Hospitality with the source’s family name as the remarks
The distributor said he repeatedly requested proof of payment or progress on the visa process before paying up the balance, but Adeboyejo kept asking him to “calm down”.
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The frustrated distributor said he demanded a refund when Adeboyejo would not give him an update on the situation. That same time, Adeboyejo applied for a tourist visa for the distributor and his wife but it was denied.
“Now, if I chat with him, he doesn’t respond. Adeboyejo is outside the country, and the woman he works with keeps talking about ‘japa’ plans,” he lamented.
“I waited six months but there was no further update. He once said the woman told him to persuade us to pay up the balance. I got fed up and asked for a refund. They said they would deduct some charges. I asked to know how much they would deduct from the charges but they didn’t get back to me.”
FIJ called Adeboyejo on Monday several times but he did not respond. A follow-up text sent to his phone had not been responded to at press time.
FIJ also contacted Oxfordbridge Tours and Hospitality, the agency Adeboyejo was affiliated with, but their phone line did not connect. At press time, they had not responded to the text sent to them.
The post Lagos Distributor Paid Korede Adeboyejo N9.7m for Canadian Visa in 2023. Nothing Came, He Went Quiet appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.