A prominent supporter of Peter Obi in the United Kingdom, Mr. Benjamin Kuti, widely known as the Oluomo of Derby, has come under fire over allegations of financial misconduct and involvement in fraudulent Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) activities linked to the Nigerians in the UK (NIUK) community platform.
Kuti, who founded and previously led NIUK, a social media-driven support network boasting over 25,000 Nigerian members across the UK is accused of diverting communal funds into personal accounts and exploiting the platform for profit through questionable COS-related schemes.
According to LagosReporter which pointed at multiple sources within NIUK, individuals seeking support for migration and employment sponsorships were allegedly defrauded after making payments in exchange for COS processing, only to be left stranded and financially distressed.
The alleged victims say they were promised legitimate opportunities that never materialized.
The backlash over these accusations led to Kuti’s resignation as president of the group. However, controversy has escalated further, with the new leadership accusing him of retaining control over the community’s financial assets, despite formally stepping down
In the aftermath, several senior members of NIUK have also resigned in protest, while calls for a thorough audit, transparency, and potential legal action continue to mount.
Critics say the scandal has severely tarnished the image of NIUK, which was originally established as a support hub for Nigerians navigating life in the UK.
Many now argue that the platform was manipulated to serve personal interests under the guise of community service.
As pressure mounts, the community awaits a formal response from Mr. Kuti and potential intervention by UK authorities to investigate the allegations and secure restitution for affected individuals.
Meanwhile, efforts by PurpleWorld Media to obtain a comment from Mr. Kuti have so far been unsuccessful.