FIJ
Tobi Omoruyi (pseudonym), a Lagos bus driver, has always dreamt of relocating his family to Cyprus in search of greener pastures. But in November, it seemed that his dream was now out of reach, thanks to Matty Olatunbosun, the self-proclaimed travel agent he put his hope in
Omoruyi told FIJ that he had always known Matty but did not contact him until the last quarter of 2021, when he was fully ready to embark on his dream. He said that Matty convincingly explained the process of travelling and made it so seamless that he paid him N1.2 million in January 2022.
He said that he asked Matty if his wife, who was pregnant at the time, could be allowed into the country with her protruding belly before he made the next payment of N2.1 million in February and he responded in affirmation.
Omoruyi said he paid another N900,000 in April and Matty assured him that there were strong indications that he and his wife would be in Cyprus by May 2022, a statement that did not materialise.
“Thinking it was certain that I would be out of the country, I sold off all that I had – my car and my wife’s shop. We did this hoping that we would get out of Nigeria, but we’re still here today,” Omoruyi told FIJ.
When May arrived, Omoruyi said, Matty contacted him to announce the incoming arrival of the visa, explaining that it would be among the many batches of June or July.
“June and July came and went, and I heard nothing from Matty or the school he claimed he wanted to help me gain admission to. When I called him, he asked me to be patient, stating that the school would resume in September,” he said.
“But by then, my wife’s belly had become so big. I asked him again if we still had the chance of entering the country as a couple, and he said yes. But we heard nothing from him until his wife called to pacify us in September.
