Joseph Nwosu, a Nigerian residing in the United Arab Emirates, has accused Adeleke Omotayo Rufai, the Chief Executive Officer of Peace Travels and Tours, of failing to deliver travel documents he and 13 others paid for and also failing to provide full refunds.

Nwosu told FIJ that Rufai had a group chat on WhatsApp where he advertised his business and told people he could help them process visas and certificates of sponsorship.

“He told me it would cost 10,000 pounds, and the exchange rate was around N900 to N1,000 then. I indicated interest, and we agreed that I would first deposit N3,000,000.”

Nwosu said Adeleke started making excuses after he completed the deposit. “He said he travelled to Turkey for business. Later, he said he fell ill and told other lies,” said Nwosu.

According to him, Adeleke relocated to the United Kingdom with his family while trying to cover up for his failure to deliver the visa and certificate of sponsorship as promised.

Since then, Nwosu has not heard any positive feedback from him. He added that he discovered Adeleke’s WhatsApp account had been deactivated and when he asked why, he told him it had been hacked.

“He said it would be ready in three or five months and promised a full refund. But he only transferred N250,000 before moving to the UK,” he added.

He discovered he was not the only one, as many other Nigerians have similar experiences.

In January, he created a WhatsApp group where he and 13 other Nigerians who had consulted and paid Adeleke for travel documents could discuss how to get their money from him.

“These people did not only pay for UK visas. He collected money from anyone wishing to travel to Australia, Poland or the Netherlands. Some of them were living in the UAE, but some are back in Nigeria,” he told FIJ.

He also told FIJ that they had written a petition they intended to submit to the United Kingdom’s Home Office and were gathering signatures.

FIJ spoke with two members of the group. Johnson, one of them, told FIJ he paid Adeleke N3 million in June 2023 for a UK care package but he had not told him when the job interview would be held or given any positive news.

Before this experience with Adeleke, Johnson patronised his shop in Dubai, where he sold items imported from Africa.

“He told me the price was N10 million but I would first have to pay N5 million and send the balance of N5 million when I got to the UK. The agreement was that it was 100 percent sure and he would refund if it did not work out,” said Johnson.

He also said Adeleke would make up excuses whenever he was asked why the travel documents were not ready.

“He kept posting me until I went to his shop in Dubai and found out he had travelled to the UK with his family after selling the shop,” Johnson said.

“All efforts to reach him or get a refund were futile, and he deactivated his WhatsApp account. When I asked why he deactivated it, he claimed it was hacked.”

STRANDED IN NIGERIA AFTER VISA REJECTION

Michael (not real name) told FIJ he had become stranded after paying Adeleke N2 million for an Australian visa. He said the visa was rejected and Omotayo promised him a full refund.

“I paid N2.2 million for an Australian visa, but it was rejected. He promised to refund the money after deducting N600,000 from it. He has refunded N500,000 and is yet to refund the balance of N1.1 million,” Michael told FIJ.

“This was my hard-earned savings in Dubai for four years. I am back in Nigeria because I could not get a visa. I am left with no job and cannot provide for my family because I have become stranded as a family man.”

ADELEKE RESPONDS

When FIJ reached Adeleke on Telegram, he said that everything the victims said was a misconception and he did not run away from Dubai.

“It is all a misconception. They have tarnished my image on social media and ruined my business. I did not run from anyone and plan to settle issues with my clients.”

Adeleke also said he was a licensed visa agent. When FIJ asked him to provide a copy of his licence, he declined, saying: “I am 100% licensed. If you get a court order for it, then it is possible. I have faced impersonation issues, and I am still facing them.”