By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Nigerian man, whose name is withheld for security reasons, is seeking a refund of £9,000 from Benjamin Kuti, a prominent Nigerian community leader in the UK, after a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) deal fell through.
Earlier this year, BlackBox Nigeria reported about certificate of sponsorship failed Deal with some Nigerians in the UK— a situation that was brought to the public through TikTok.
According to the man, he paid Kuti, also known as Oluomo of Derby, £9,000 in August 2024 for a CoS that would enable him to work in the UK.
However, after completing the payment, Kuti repeatedly delayed the process, citing the need for an interview and later blaming the December holidays.
In a report by FIJ, the man revealed that he had lost trust in Kuti and was demanding a full refund of his money.
“I have asked him to refund my money, but he has not done so,” the man said.
“I am worried that I may not get my money back.”
This is not the first time Kuti has been accused of withholding money from individuals.
Another Nigerian, Olowu, recently accused Kuti of refusing to refund £7,000 from a similar deal.
When contacted, Kuti promised to refund the man’s money by the end of March.
However, the man remains skeptical, having heard similar promises in January that were not fulfilled.
The case has raised concerns about the exploitation of Nigerians seeking employment opportunities in the UK.
The man has reported the case to the police and has sought help from other influential figures in the Nigerian community in the UK.
As the investigation continues, many are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the process of obtaining CoS in the UK.
