Sam Kanu, a Lagos-based trader, had a visa-related deal with Sheyi Shobayo after receiving an email on June 16, 2022.

The email urged him to contact Shobayo should he be interested in getting a Canadian work permit.

Shobayo is an Abuja-based travel agent, who owns Sposh Travels and Tours.

While speaking with FIJ, Kanu said he first deposited N450,000 as part of the payment for the work permit plan he opted for. He would later send an additional N146,000 for visa and biometrics.

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“I sent the N450,000 to him on June 20, and he promised to refund it if the visa was not issued after 90 days,” Kanu told FIJ.

“Two days later, he asked for several details to enable him to apply. I thought he had secured the work contract and was ready to file for a visa, so I obliged him with all the details he requested.”

Kanu said he sent N146,400, the naira equivalent of $240, on July 5, after the travel agent asked for his visa and biometrics fee.

“On August 12, he sent a message asking where I would like to go for my biometrics. I mentioned Lagos,” said Kanu.

“He sent another message via WhatsApp on September 14, saying that my job would be ready the same week. I reminded him that he told me my biometrics letter would be ready the previous but I got no update on that.

“Between September 23 and October 11, I sent him a series of messages, asking about the biometrics letter. Most of the messages were ignored.”

According to Kanu, Shobayo did not send the letter until about 2:18 pm on October 13, but he found out that the agent had received the letter since September 15.

FIJ learned that because the letter was valid for 30 days, it was going to expire the following day after Shobayo sent it to Kanu.

“He told me not to go to VFS Global, a visa outsourcing and technology services specialist, the following day because there would be no space for me. He said he had to apply for another biometrics lette,” Kanu told FIJ.

“When I asked why he waited 27 days before sending the letter to me, he said he forgot.”

Kanu informed FIJ that he then asked Shobayo to refund him on November 16 because “there was no proof of progress”, but the agent insisted that the process was on and he needed more time.

“He failed to process a Canadian work permit as agreed within the 90-day time frame. When I scrutinised the biometrics letter he sent to me, I found that he had applied for a visit visa for me. That was not our agreement,” the trader said.

“Due to immense pressure from me, when I threatened to expose him on Twitter, he returned my N450,000. Then he said he would not send my balance.

“He has also blocked me on Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook, making it impossible to reach him.

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However, Shobayo transferred the N146,000 to Kanu on June 13, 2023, after FIJ reached out to him regarding the matter.

When FIJ contacted the travel agent via email and WhatsApp on June 2, he confirmed the matter but insisted he did what he was paid to do.

“I did what I was paid to do, but Mr Sam (Kanu) was a very difficult client. I have reported the case officially and also have a tracking number for his cyberbullying against me,” he added said on WhatsApp.

In response to a follow-up message FIJ sent to Shobayo on June 10, he said he had no issues with refunds but noted that visa fees were nonrefundable.

But on Tuesday, after FIJ reached out to him to know the way out, he transferred the money to Kanu, and then sent the debit alert to FIJ.

He also noted that he would be going ahead with the lawsuit filed against Kanu, who reportedly bullied him and threatened his family.

FIJ subsequently contacted Kanu to know if he had received the money.

“I really appreciate your effort. But I no longer use that account. I have to contact Kuda and see if I can access the money,” he said.