A Nigerian man living in the UK is demanding justice after allegedly losing £10,500 in a failed visa sponsorship arrangement linked to a prominent figure in the Nigerian diaspora community known online as the #OluomOfDerby.

The man, who prefers to be identified as Olaolu Smith (a pseudonym), said that he paid the sum to Benjamin Kuti, popularly known on X (formerly Twitter) as “The President of Nigerians Living in the UK,” in exchange for help securing a Certificate of Sponsorship #CoS to extend his UK stay under a Skilled Worker visa.

Smith explained that his dependent visa was due to expire in October 2024, and with limited options, he was introduced to Kuti through a mutual contact. He claimed Kuti assured him he could arrange a three-year visa extension for himself and his family, provided he paid £10,500.

Smith, desperate to remain in the UK, borrowed money and made the full payment in two days—transferring funds in tranches to three UK bank accounts provided by Kuti between October 1 and 2, 2024.

Shortly afterward, Smith said he received a Certificate of Sponsorship and was successfully granted a Skilled Worker visa. However, the job offer tied to the visa never materialised. His attempts to follow up were met with evasive responses, missed calls, and eventually, silence. Kuti blocked him across all platforms.

Things took a worse turn in March 2025 when Smith received a curtailment letter from the UK Home Office informing him that his visa had been cancelled due to sponsor-related issues. He reached out to Kuti again, who reportedly promised to “sort it out” and even agreed to a refund. But months later, there has been no resolution.

When contacted, Kuti confirmed his involvement but denied any direct wrongdoing. He claimed that he did not personally collect the money and only introduced Smith to a company that could help.

He further said the company’s sponsorship licence was later revoked, which he described as beyond his control. Kuti suggested that he was being unfairly targeted due to his high profile on social media.

However, Smith rejected that explanation. He said he was never introduced to any company and that all dealings were exclusively with Kuti. He also disputed the claim that the company’s licence was revoked, pointing out that the organisation remains listed as active on the official Home Office register.

According to him, Kuti gave that excuse after claiming to have fallen out with his contact within the company.

Smith added that despite Kuti’s past promise to refund the money, he has received nothing. He now faces the threat of deportation, financial distress, and uncertainty about his future.

His case may not be isolated. Several Nigerians in the UK have recently come forward with similar stories involving large payments to Kuti for visa sponsorships that never led to actual employment. Alleged victims report being charged between £7,000 and £10,000 and receiving either no CoS or visas that were later cancelled.

With UK immigration tightening rules on overseas workers, particularly in the care sector, many migrants have become vulnerable to exploitation by unregulated agents and self-styled facilitators.

This has prompted renewed calls from diaspora communities for the UK government to introduce clearer regulations and protections around visa sponsorship and migration assistance.

Smith says he is now taking legal steps and intends to report the case to UK authorities. His final message is one of warning and demand for accountability: “I want my £10,500 back. And I want others to be warned.”