News
Nigerians in UK protest visa scams, call out 30 suspects
Nigerians living in the United Kingdom have protested against rising cases of certificate of sponsorship scams in the country.
Some UK-based Nigerians assembled on Marsham Street in London to participate in the protest on Thursday, according to Sunday PUNCH .
A live video on TikTok seen by our correspondents showed a woman, Christiana Olabisi, aka Ferrari, with a megaphone, as she called on victims of the scams to join in the demonstration.
She said, “No more scamming. Enough is enough. Whether you like it or not, all of you are going to get reported.
“We are here waiting for you, for those of you still wanting to join the protest, we are waiting for you. Don’t let anybody scare you. This is a country where you can speak up. Don’t let anyone scare you with deportation. If anyone has collected money from you, this is the time to speak up. Tomorrow may be too late.
“We have a lot of people making others cry in this country. A group of people collecting huge sums of money from the newcomers; we are here to inform the Home Office about what is going on in this country. They don’t even know the huge sums being collected. We are going to expose you,”
According to an e-flier circulated on X last week, which was turned into a banner on the protest ground, 30 suspects were identified with their photos.
The flier, titled, ‘Say No To UK CoS Scam’ read, ‘Faces of people scamming people with thousands of pounds for CoS in the UK.’
Speaking with our correspondent, Olabisi said there were about 10 people at the protest, which was held in front of the UK Home Office.
“One of the officials later addressed us that we should write a formal letter for the Home Office to address our grievances,” she added.
Victims share ordeals
Certificate of Sponsorship is a visa scheme designed for licensed organisations by the UK government to enable them to hire overseas workers, who they bring into the European country. CoS is supposed to be free.
Overseas workers can only make valid visa applications from their countries if they have the backing of such licensed companies, who are also called sponsors.
Many desperate foreign workers looking for such visas have, however, fallen victim to fraudulent agents and companies who demand huge sums of money in return for the favour.
Some immigrants, who once had blue-collar jobs, have been discovered to leave them with assurance from their agents that they would get skilled jobs in the UK.
However, many get stranded in the UK with no jobs as they depend on food banks for survival after losing millions of naira spent on relocation.
During the protest in London, hundreds of people who claimed to be resident in the UK and joined the livestream on TikTok, commended the organisers of the demonstration.
A caller, who did not identify himself, recounted how a fraudster defrauded his friend of £15,000.
“My friend, along with his wife and two children, paid a whopping £15,000 to a guy in the UK for a Certificate of Sponsorship. I warned them not to, but they didn’t listen.
“When they got to Manchester, I learned they paid even more money to another person for the same CoS. But nothing came out of it,” he said.
A woman, who identified herself as Ehizojie Joy, said, “I have been here for two years, yet no shifts from my employer after paying £10,000. I have only been managing 20-hour shifts from another employer.”
Another victim said, “I paid £12,000, and now the company has stopped taking my calls.”
A content creator, Musa Eunice, also shared her experience, revealing how her cousin was allegedly scammed of £20,000.
“Na £20,000 they collected from my cousin. Wicked people,” she wrote.
Another user recounted losing £12,000 to the fraudsters.
“Since I arrived in the UK, I have had no work. I have been struggling financially after paying £12,000 in debt for the CoS,” he wrote.
More victims came forward with similar stories in the comment section.
Juicy.cake1 wrote, “I got duped £3,000. The person who scammed me is on the list,” while another unnamed user said, “I was scammed out of £8,500. Please, I need help recovering my money.”
Eddyking71 stated, “They already scammed me out of £11,000.”
Another user, Sovereign_ruler, shared how the scam had caused his mother heartbreak.
“My mom has been in pain after being scammed out of her hard-earned money by one Toyin,” he wrote.
In a live broadcast, another TikToker, Rita Onyekweli (@rita4delta), recounted how the fraudulent schemes ruined lives both at home and abroad.
She said, “A lot of people are in my DMs, crying. These scammers prey on people’s vulnerabilities and take thousands of pounds from them. Do you know how much that is? Some people sold their properties, while others borrowed heavily just to raise the money, only to be scammed.
“These people charge between £12,000 to £20,000, but when the victims arrive in the UK, there is no job for them. Some, after paying everything, even get their visas denied because they were given fake CoS. Why are Africans like this? If you don’t have a CoS, why take someone’s money? It is disheartening!”
CoS scam is rampant in the UK with many immigrants falling victims.
In August 2023, Sky News investigated and reported how many Africans were exploited by fraudulent companies.
Victims who shared their ordeals on condition of anonymity, said they were relying on food banks to survive as they had been left stranded after paying thousands of pounds for CoS.
“There is a big scam going on about this. A lot of people are being scammed and deceived every day that there are jobs in the UK,” one of the victims stated.
Also, DailyMail in 2024 investigated a Baptist minister, who was arrested after admitting on camera to charging £9,000 to arrange a job in three days.
One migrant said he paid £6,000 cash for a Certificate of Sponsorship at a meeting in one of the company’s offices in the north-west of England, but did not get the sponsorship.
Suspect denies allegation
One of the people whose pictures were put on the protest poster, Mojisola, denied the allegation.
She disclosed that she had already taken steps to clear her name and seek redress through legal means.
Mojisola told Sunday PUNCH that she had taken legal action against her accuser at the King’s Bench Division of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
“The allegations made against me on social media are completely false.
“I have commenced legal actions against her and as this matter is now before the court, I will not be making any further comments at this time,” she said.
NiDCOM counsels protesters
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said while it was not aware of the Thursday protest, visa scams had been a serious cause for concern.
The NiDCOM Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said most Nigerians fell victim because they did not use legal channels to relocate.
“My advice for them is that they should seek legal redress,” the NiDCOM spokesperson said. “They should tread cautiously as they protest. They should not take the law into their own hands. They should remain law-abiding even as they register their displeasure.”
The Home Office has yet to respond to enquiries on the protest as of press time.(Sunday PUNCH)
Kogi State has been thrown into mourning.
Former Governor Ibrahim Idris, the man fondly called Ibro, has reportedly died in the United Kingdom at 77.
Sources broke the sad news on Sunday, with details of his passing still sketchy as of press time.
Though details regarding the latest development are still sketchy, family sources said Idris had suffered protracted illness.
Meanwhile, incumbent Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has condoled with the former governor’s family.
In his condolence message, Ododo described the late lawmaker as a man who had made meaningful contributions in politics and business.
The governor also recalled his last meeting with the ex-governor in March 2024 during a visit involving political stakeholders from Omala Local Government Area.
Ibro was not just a governor. He was an institution.
From businessman to political colossus, Idris stormed Kogi politics in 2003 when he floored incumbent Abubakar Audu to emerge governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
What followed was a turbulent, dramatic reign.
His 2007 re-election was nullified by the courts after Audu was excluded from the ballot. The Court of Appeal in February 2008 ordered a fresh election. Idris fought back and won the March 2008 re-run, holding on to power until January 2012 when he handed over to Captain Idris Wada.
Born in Idah in 1949, Idris built his name in business before politics — founder of Ibro Trading Company, with tentacles in construction, furniture and hospitality.
He built a furniture factory in Sokoto and Ibro Hotel, reputed to be the first three-star hotel in old Sokoto State.
Fate tested him in 2006 when three of his daughters miraculously survived the ill-fated ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash that killed 96 others. A grateful Ibro called it a “superlative show of mercy” from God.
But tragedy never left him far.
In April 2024, he buried his son, Mohammed Ibrahim Idris, former member of the House of Representatives for Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala, who died in Abuja shortly after Eid-el-Fitr prayers.
… Records major drug seizures across eight states, FCT
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as 6,000kg of cannabis, in a series of operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the seizures had a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion.
The operations were conducted in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe and Imo states, as well as the FCT.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the various commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations, urging them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
A major highlight of the operations was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.
The operation also led to the arrest of a 49-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.
Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the agency, preliminary investigation revealed that Ekpe allegedly presented himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card.
A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a location along Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
The agency said Ossai allegedly used his auto-repair workshop to store illicit drugs.
Operatives recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grammes of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used to store the substances.
At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under surveillance after it arrived on September 12.
A joint physical examination conducted with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16, led to the discovery of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg.
The consignment was concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles in the container.
In Niger State, three suspects — Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18 — were arrested on Tuesday, September 15, during a patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.
The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
Two other suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on Friday, September 18, along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
The agency said more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from them.
The substances were allegedly concealed in eight sacks and were being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on Friday, September 18, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.
Seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were also intercepted at a logistics company in the state, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe.
In another operation in Lagos, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apongbo on Thursday, September 17, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, a total of 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19.
The suspects were arrested at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market respectively on Friday, September 18.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on Friday with 43.85kg of skunk.
Similarly, four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest, Ondo State, on Tuesday, September 15.
The NDLEA said 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed during the operation, while 48kg of dried and fresh cannabis was recovered from the location.
Meanwhile, commands and formations of the agency continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns across the country during the week.
The activities included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to traditional ruler, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
The NDLEA said the sensitisation activities were part of its continued efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of illicit drug use and trafficking.
A woman identified as Bilkisu Sani has been arrested in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State over the alleged killing of her husband, Hafisu Gausu, amid reported plans by the deceased to marry another woman.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 7pm on Friday, September 18, 2026, in the Katsalle area of Rogo town.
A resident, Auwal Kazagi Rogo, said residents rushed to the scene after hearing cries from Bilkisu, who reportedly claimed that her husband had been kidnapped and killed.
Kazagi said residents who arrived at the scene found Gausu with an injury to his head. He explained that contrary to the initial claim that the deceased had been slaughtered, residents allegedly found that he had been struck with an object.
He said the police were immediately contacted and subsequently evacuated the body for investigation.
According to the resident, Gausu had reportedly been planning to marry another woman as his second wife, a decision that allegedly led to repeated disagreements between him and Bilkisu.
Kazagi said the woman had allegedly vowed to prevent the marriage, prompting community elders to intervene in an attempt to resolve the dispute. However, tensions reportedly continued.
The police subsequently arrested Bilkisu as the prime suspect, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding Gausu’s death remain ongoing.
The deceased was buried on Saturday morning in Rogo in accordance with Islamic rites.
Reports indicate that Gausu and Bilkisu had been married for nearly seven years and had two children. Bilkisu is also reportedly pregnant for the deceased.
Sources in the community further claimed that Gausu had asked his prospective bride’s family to bring forward the wedding date by two months because of the reported disagreement with his wife.
The police have yet to conclude their investigation into the incident, and the allegations against Bilkisu remain subject to the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
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