A Canada-based travel agent, Damilare Matthew Kolawole, is insisting that the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) retract an investigative report exposing his business practices before he begins refunding 120,635 Canadian dollars (roughly N132 million) belonging to aggrieved visa seekers.
This condition was disclosed by Ayo Ladipo (pseudonym), another travel consultant residing in Canada who referred the 13 applicants to Kolawole. The initial report, published on May 24, highlighted how Kolawole collected significant funds for Canadian work permit filings while keeping the applicants entirely in the dark regarding their application status.
According to Ladipo, negotiations for the recovery of the funds have hit several roadblocks. Kolawole initially suggested refunding only 50 percent of the paid sums, claiming the remainder had been absorbed by legal representatives and handling fees. Ladipo countered that a partial refund would only be fair for clients with verified first-stage submissions—and only if Kolawole followed through on promised secondary filings.
However, out of the 13 applicants, Kolawole provided proof of submission and eventual refusal for just three people. Even then, he did not provide portal login credentials, formal refusal letters from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), or records showing what materials were actually submitted.
Ladipo emphasized that without unique application numbers, candidates are blocked from communicating with IRCC to request their case records and verify what steps were taken on their behalf. Meanwhile, the other 10 clients have zero evidence of any paperwork being submitted. Although Kolawole claimed he filed on their behalf and contacted them, the clients confirmed that they received no updates or documents from him, prompting them to demand 100 percent of their money back.
Kolawole also reneged on a pledge to file fresh applications by August 15 and subsequently proposed stretching the repayments across a three-year installment plan, continually postponing the initial payment date.
When his proposed timelines fell through, Kolawole pivoted to demanding the complete removal of the FIJ report, protesting that the story displayed his name and photograph. Text exchanges show Kolawole insisting the article must be pulled down before he processes refunds, adding that he was under no obligation to address FIJ and would choose which media platforms to speak with.
The controversy has now escalated to law enforcement. Ladipo revealed that he received an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition from one of the frustrated clients, alongside communications from legal teams and the Nigeria Police Force.
Ladipo noted that he previously visited Kolawole at the House of Praise and Prayer (HOPAP) in Toronto to confirm his operations, but now suspects the entire engagement was deceitful. While Canadian immigration standards have tightened recently, Ladipo maintained that Kolawole’s complete failure to show verifiable progress undermines any credibility he might have had.
Kolawole did not reply to messages or emails sent by FIJ requesting comment on the matter prior to publication.
