London, United Kingdom — Nigerians residing in the UK have taken to the streets to protest the increasing prevalence of Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) scams, calling out 30 individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent visa schemes.
The demonstration took place on Thursday, with protesters assembling on Marsham Street, London, to voice their grievances. A live TikTok broadcast captured one of the key organizers, Christiana Olabisi, also known as Ferrari, urging victims to step forward and expose fraudsters.
“We say no to scams! Enough is enough! You will all be exposed,” she declared through a megaphone. “If you’ve been deceived and lost money, now is the time to speak up. This is a country where you can raise your voice without fear.”
An e-flier circulated on X (formerly Twitter) before the protest, and later displayed on banners, featured the names and photographs of 30 alleged perpetrators. The banner read: ‘Say No to UK CoS Scam: Faces of People Defrauding Innocent Nigerians of Thousands of Pounds.’
Speaking to reporters, Olabisi disclosed that about 10 individuals participated in the protest outside the UK Home Office, where an official advised them to submit a formal petition for further action.
Victims Share Experiences
The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) scheme is designed by the UK government to enable licensed employers to recruit workers from overseas. While CoS is meant to be free, many desperate job seekers have fallen victim to fraudulent agents demanding exorbitant sums in exchange for non-existent sponsorships.
Numerous affected individuals have taken to social media to share their harrowing experiences. Many recounted paying between £3,000 and £20,000, only to arrive in the UK without jobs or valid sponsorship, leaving them stranded and dependent on food banks.
A protest participant shared a story of a friend who lost £15,000 to a scammer. “He paid for CoS for himself, his wife, and two kids. They arrived in Manchester only to realize they had been duped,” he lamented.
Another victim, Ehizojie Joy, stated, “I’ve been here for two years without work from my sponsor, despite paying £10,000. I barely manage to get 20-hour shifts elsewhere.”
Similarly, Musa Eunice, a content creator, revealed that her cousin was defrauded of £20,000. “Wicked people! They took all his money, promising him sponsorship that never came,” she wrote.
Other victims flooded the protest’s comment section with similar stories:
– Juicy.cake1: “I lost £3,000. My scammer’s face is on that banner.”
– Eddyking71: “They scammed me out of £11,000.”
– Sovereign_ruler: “My mom is heartbroken after losing her life savings.”
In a live broadcast, TikToker Rita Onyekweli (@rita4delta) condemned the fraudulent activities, saying, “People have sold properties and borrowed money just to raise funds for CoS, only to be scammed. Why deceive desperate job seekers?”
Investigations by Sky News in August 2023 and Daily Mail in 2024 revealed widespread exploitation, with some fraudsters charging up to £9,000 for fake sponsorships. In one case, a Baptist minister was arrested after being caught on camera demanding thousands of pounds for CoS arrangements.
Denials and Legal Action
One of the individuals named in the protest, Mojisola, denied any wrongdoing and stated that she had initiated legal proceedings against her accuser at the King’s Bench Division of the Royal Courts of Justice, London.
“The allegations against me are completely false,” she said. “Since the matter is now in court, I will refrain from further comments.”
NiDCOM Weighs In
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) acknowledged concerns over visa scams but stated that it was unaware of Thursday’s protest. NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, urged affected individuals to seek legal redress while maintaining lawful conduct during demonstrations.
“My advice is for them to take legal action rather than resorting to self-help,” he said. “While registering their grievances, they should remain law-abiding and avoid any unlawful acts.”
As of press time, the UK Home Office had yet to respond to inquiries regarding the protest.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | February 23, 2025
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