A Nigerian woman, Adefunke Adeyemo, based in Canada has alleged that she paid about C$25,000 to a woman Adeola Afolayan who promised to help her secure a work permit through employment at her restaurant.
Adeyemo made the allegation during an interview with Frank on The Lunch Club. She alleged she paid the money to Adeola Afolayan, formerly known as Adeola Sofowora, after she was introduced to her through her 15 years old daughter.
According to Adeyemo, Afolayan presented herself as an employer who could employ her as a cook and provide the documentation needed to support her work permit application. 
Adeyemo said she paid C$22,500 directly to Afolayan, followed by another C$1,525. She said the remaining amount involved another man identified as Sam, whom Afolayan introduced to her.
She put the total amount at about C$25,000.
How the Arrangement Started
Funke said her daughter first met Adeola through her friend, Charity. Her daughter later introduced the two women.
According to her account, Adeola told her that she owned a restaurant and could employ her as a cook. Adeyemo said the proposed employment would also allow Adeola to provide a recommendation letter and support the process for obtaining a Canadian work permit.
She said Adeola requested C$25,000 for the process. Funke told The Lunch Club that she did not believe an employer should charge her for obtaining a work permit. However, she said Adeola explained that the money would cover documentation and other processes required for the application.
Funke said she made her first payment in October and paid the balance in November.
The Six-Week Deadline
According to Funke, Adeola told her the process would take between four and six weeks.
When that period passed without an update, Adeyemo said she initially waited before attempting to contact Afolayan. She said she later called Adeola but did not receive a clear response.
According to Funke, Adeola eventually told her that she was not an immigration officer and that delays could occur because of backlogs.
Funke said Adeola also told her that she had submitted the application and that the matter was now outside her control. That explanation prompted Adeyemo to contact the Rural and Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) office directly.
She said an official who answered her call confirmed that Adeola existed as an employer and had submitted two candidates under the programme. However, Adeyemo alleged that the official told her that she was not one of those candidates.
She said this was when she realised that, according to the information she received, no application had been submitted for her.
ALSO READ: Woman Narrates Her ₦83 Million Comeback After ₦11 Million Prayer Group Scam
Adeyemo Says She Could Not Recover the Money
Adefunke said she confronted Adeola after receiving the information. According to her, Adeola became difficult to reach and eventually stopped responding to her calls.
Funke said she contacted a lawyer in an attempt to recover the money. She told The Lunch Club that Adeola responded to the lawyer and agreed to repay the money in instalments.
Funke said no repayment followed. She also alleged that Adeola and her husband, Ademola Folayanda, later blocked her telephone number.
During the interview Adeyemo stated that she contacted Afolayan’s father, identified as Pastor Ebenezer Sofowora f the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). According to Adeyemo, the pastor expressed regret over the situation and advised her to pursue both Adeola and her husband for the money.
The Source of the C$25,000
Adeyemo said the C$25,000 represented money she had accumulated through personal savings, the sale of some properties and loans from friends. She said the financial loss has affected her plans in Canada.
According to her account, she had intended to use part of the money for tuition for an academic programme scheduled to begin in September. She said she withdrew the money she had set aside for her education and used it for the proposed work permit process.
Adeyemo said she can no longer afford the programme. She also said she currently has no job in Canada and has limited financial support in Nigeria.
A Public Appeal for Repayment
The Lunch Club interview ended with Frank directly addressing Adeola and her husband. He gave them 48 hours to contact Adeyemo and resolve the dispute. He said the programme would active nuclear option if they failed to respond.
The interview represents Funke’s account of the dispute. Adeola has not been heard from following this report.
SEE ALSO:The Truth Behind the Viral $4m Real Estate Scam Claim About Bella Shmurda
About The Author
