Ahmad Olatunji, an indigene of Ede in Osun State, has accused Adeleke Zacheous Adedeji, the chief travel consultant of De Royals Travels and Logistics, an Ibadan-based travel agency, of defrauding him of N500,000.
Ahmad said he started consultations with Zaccheaus in 2021 on his travel documentations when he intended to travel to Canada.
“He initially said he was going to help with European countries, but he later told me he had a slot for Canada, and that he was going to fix me in,” Ahmad told FIJ.
READ ALSO: One Year After Avidela Travel Agency Took Man’s N1m, It Has Not Delivered Australian Visa
According to the Ede man, he sought the advice of Agidigbo FM, an Ibadan radio station that had publicised the travel agency’s operations.
“I’ve been in this since 2021. I went to Agidigbo FM in Ibadan to enquire about the travel agency,” Ahmad said.
It was the radio station, through its secretary, Alonge Ayodeji, that introduced Ahmad to Zaccheaus Adedeji’s De Royals Travels and Logistics.
Ahmad told FIJ that his dealing with Zaccheaus had cost him N500,000 without anything to show for it.
“I paid Zaccheaus N400,000 deposit on August 16. Few months after, he demanded another N300,000. I could not get that much at the time, so I gave him N60,000,” he said.
“This was in addition to some cash payments I made to him.”
READ ALSO: Airline Operators to Cancel, Reschedule Flights Over Aviation Fuel Scarcity
The situation, however, gave Ahmad the notion that Zaccheaus’ company was operating a sham service.
“Having known the man is a scam, I went to the radio station several times to report him. However, they kept telling me to be patient, that I’d get my money back,” he said.
Ahmad said that over a year after, Zaccheaus’ travel agency was yet to do anything on his documentations.
“Since then, he has stopped answering my calls or replying to messages. I’m so frustrated and depressed right now,” Ahmad said.
Efforts to reach Zaccheous proved abortive, as his phone was unreachable when FIJ called on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
FIJ also called Agidigbo FM for the station’s reactions, but the secretary did not answer or reply to the message sent.
Subscribe
Be the first to receive special investigative reports and features in your inbox.