Elizabeth Ebosele (pseudonym), a widow, paid a United Kingdom Immigration Health Surcharge in 2021 for herself and her son through acquaintance Dafe Esiri. The surcharge was refunded but Esiri refused to remit Ebosele in full since 2023. But after FIJ told the story, Esiri released the refund that had been withheld for years.

In January, FIJ reported that Ebosele needed to pay the surcharge in dollars in 2021, but because she did not own a dollar card and did not want to get one since she would soon leave the country, she sent N1,526,000 to Esiri.

READ ALSO: Dafe Esiri Refuses to Refund Full Value of Widow’s 2021 IHS Fees

The N1,526,000 was the naira equivalent of the IHS fee in dollars at the time, a rate that was calculated using Esiri’s Bureau de Change rate.

For context, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid upfront when making a UK visa application to have access to the National Health Service without additional charges.

After Ebosele completed her studies, she secured a job in healthcare. Afterwards, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) reimbursed her the amount Esiri paid for her.

The UKVI sent her refund in three instalments — September and October 2023 and May 2024.

Esiri gave her $339.04 for September and $339.04 for October 2023 but refused to give her the funds for May 2024. He also did not send the refunds the UKVI made for her son.

Ebosele asked him for the money in July, but Esiri did not respond.

In December when he chose to respond, he denied the money being with him.

When Ebosele asked the UKVI for clearer details about where they paid the refund, they told her it was sent to a card that ends with ‘0891’, a card that belonged to Esiri.

After enquiring from his bank, they confirmed that he indeed owned a card that ends with that number.

READ ALSO: After FIJ’s Story, ‘Oluomo of Derby’ Refunds Nigerian Vet’s £7,000

On Thursday, Ebosele reached out to FIJ that Esiri had refunded the money he’s withheld for almost two years.

“I trust you are well. I wanted to inform you that Dafe has finally paid my money ($1,300),” Ebosele said through a text on Friday.

“He sent me an email two weeks ago requesting for my Nigerian USD account details, which I forwarded to him. Two days ago, I received a payment receipt from him, which I confirmed from my bank.

“Thanks so much for your help. May God continue to bless you.”