Valentino Chukwuebuka, a Lagos trader, has shared his distressing experience of being defrauded by Sheyi Shobayo, a travel agent, resulting in a loss of N255,000.

Chukwuebuka told FIJ he had done all that he could to get his money legally from Shobayo, the founder of Sposh Travels and Tours, but had not succeeded since 2020.

Narrating how he found himself caught in Shobayo’s deceptive web, Chukwuebuka said he used to read Shobayo’s posts on Nairaland.

Inexperienced in such matters, Chukwuebuka found Shobayo’s posts appealing and trustworthy. Therefore, when Shobayo advertised his services for obtaining Turkish Visas, he seized the opportunity.

“I approached him regarding the cost of a Turkish Visa, and he informed me about the N100,000 fee. Without hesitation, I transferred the money on October 23, 2020. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse,” Chukwuebuka told FIJ.

According to Chukwuebuka, Shobayo later sent him a police character certificate, requesting him to fill it out, place his thumbprint and send it back to him.

READ MORE: Travel Agent Returns Trader’s N146,000 After FIJ’s Intervention

Chukwuebuka said that he hesitated because a friend who was a police officer indicated that the certificate from Shobayo was fraudulent as only the police had the authority to issue such documents. At this point, Chukwuebuka decided to abandon the Turkish Visa application, concerned about engaging in forgery.

Opting for a Canadian Visa Shobayo had frequently advertised instead, Chukwuebuka paid an additional N155,000 on November 27, 2020.

“After a few days, Shobayo’s demeanour changed, causing me to question my decision. When I inquired a week later about the visa application’s progress, he admitted to not having started the process. That’s when I requested a refund,” Chukwuebuka recalled.

“He initially promised to initiate the refund process but later changed his stance, attributing the delay to issues stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic affecting his industry. He requested two more weeks to return the funds, citing diversion for other purposes.

“Patiently waiting, I respected the grace period before contacting him again. However, he began ignoring my calls and eventually blocked my number,” Chukwuebuka continued.

Chukwuebuka said that what shocked him about Shobayo was how he swiftly responded to him when he called him with other people’s numbers and acted like a potential client. Although he ended up blocking the numbers after realising Chukwuemeka was on the other end of the phone.

READ ALSO: Access Bank Credits Customer’s Account With ‘Missing’ N600,000 After FIJ’s Intervention

“In 2021, I came across a post on Nairaland discussing how individuals had fallen victim to an agent’s scams. I shared my experience involving Shobayo. Other users echoed my sentiment, sharing their accounts of being owed by him since as far back as 2011,” Chukwuebuka recounted.

“He reached out to me via email after reading my comments on Nairaland, requesting my bank account details. While his approach seemed remorseful, I later realised it was merely a tactic.”

Chukwuemeka said that after a considerable period, Shobayo unblocked him and presented two options: assisting him in applying for a school visa as compensation or refunding the N155,000.

“But he has not refunded me. Desperate for a resolution, I even visited the bank to explore possible solutions, but I am still in the same predicament,” Chukwuebuka lamented.

Upon contacting Shobayo for his input on the situation, Shobayo alleged that Chukwuebuka had breached their contractual agreement and had not accurately presented the issue. Shobayo did not provide his version of events.