Akinlade, who graduated with a diploma in Social Services from Nova Scotia Community College in 2019, shared her bitter experience with CBC News on Thursday.
She says she was unaware that the acceptance letter provided by an agent for the University of Regina in 2016 was fake until she was contacted by the IRCC a few weeks before her graduation from her new institution.
The mother of two noted that while receiving her diploma, she felt both happiness and worry upon realising that she had allegedly relied on a fraudulent document to secure her study permit, adding, “I was devastated. That was the beginning of my trauma.”
In an interview with the Canadian news platform, she said, “When the IRCC contacted me, I requested them to re-examine my case, arguing that I was a victim of a ‘rogue agent’ who supplied me with a fake acceptance letter to the Canadian school.
“Please review my file. I just want this to be resolved.''
She stated that the process of moving to travel to and study in Canada started in 2015 while she was working as a medical sales representative at a pharmaceutical company in Lagos, with a business administration degree from a Nigerian university.
She recounted meeting a man at her office who claimed to be an immigration consultant and offered to guide her through the process of becoming an international student by applying for a master’s degree in business administration.
She explained that she did not specify a particular university to the agent, only stating that she wanted to study at a reputable Canadian institution and described how she provided the agent with documents such as her passport and university transcripts, along with payment. Several months later, he provided her with a study permit for Canada, plane tickets, and an acceptance letter from the University of Regina.
“I flew to Canada in late December 2016, expecting to start classes in January 2017. However, I was stopped in Winnipeg en route to Regina when I received a call from the agent, who told me there were no spaces available at the university and that I would have to go on a waitlist.
She says she was unaware that the acceptance letter provided by an agent for the University of Regina in 2016 was fake until she was contacted by the IRCC a few weeks before her graduation from her new institution.
The mother of two noted that while receiving her diploma, she felt both happiness and worry upon realising that she had allegedly relied on a fraudulent document to secure her study permit, adding, “I was devastated. That was the beginning of my trauma.”
In an interview with the Canadian news platform, she said, “When the IRCC contacted me, I requested them to re-examine my case, arguing that I was a victim of a ‘rogue agent’ who supplied me with a fake acceptance letter to the Canadian school.
“Please review my file. I just want this to be resolved.''
She stated that the process of moving to travel to and study in Canada started in 2015 while she was working as a medical sales representative at a pharmaceutical company in Lagos, with a business administration degree from a Nigerian university.
She recounted meeting a man at her office who claimed to be an immigration consultant and offered to guide her through the process of becoming an international student by applying for a master’s degree in business administration.
She explained that she did not specify a particular university to the agent, only stating that she wanted to study at a reputable Canadian institution and described how she provided the agent with documents such as her passport and university transcripts, along with payment. Several months later, he provided her with a study permit for Canada, plane tickets, and an acceptance letter from the University of Regina.
“I flew to Canada in late December 2016, expecting to start classes in January 2017. However, I was stopped in Winnipeg en route to Regina when I received a call from the agent, who told me there were no spaces available at the university and that I would have to go on a waitlist.
Upon arriving in Canada, she began searching independently for a new school and programme and stayed with relatives in Winnipeg until she was accepted at Nova Scotia Community College for social services, starting in September 2017.
She said she chose social services because it better aligned with her previous work in the medical field.
She also stated that she did not contact the University of Regina directly until two years later, when she received a letter from the IRCC informing her that the acceptance letter was fake.
“I was sceptical after receiving the IRCC letter, thinking it might be a misunderstanding or something, So, I immediately contacted the University of Regina And that was when I learned the truth,”.
Meanwhile, when CBC contacted the agent, Babatunde Isiaq Adegoke, he confirmed providing Akinlade with the acceptance letter but said it was supplied by a company located in Ejigbo, Lagos State, called Success Academy Education Consult, which he had hired.
CBC exchanged text messages with Adegoke, who stated that he guided Akinlade through the process of applying to enter Canada. However, he denied telling Akinlade that she would have to go on a waitlist at the University of Regina.
Akinlade lost her study permit in Canada due to a fake letter and was denied when she attempted to apply for a postgraduate work permit and a temporary resident permit.
In March 2023, an IRCC officer wrote to her, stating that the department believed she knew the document was fake “on the balance of probabilities.”
Her husband, Samson Akinlade, and their eight-year-old Nigerian-born son, David, joined her in Nova Scotia in 2018 but have now lost their temporary resident status. Their younger son, born in Canada in 2021, has Canadian citizenship but lacks medical coverage due to his parents’ status.
She said she chose social services because it better aligned with her previous work in the medical field.
She also stated that she did not contact the University of Regina directly until two years later, when she received a letter from the IRCC informing her that the acceptance letter was fake.
“I was sceptical after receiving the IRCC letter, thinking it might be a misunderstanding or something, So, I immediately contacted the University of Regina And that was when I learned the truth,”.
Meanwhile, when CBC contacted the agent, Babatunde Isiaq Adegoke, he confirmed providing Akinlade with the acceptance letter but said it was supplied by a company located in Ejigbo, Lagos State, called Success Academy Education Consult, which he had hired.
CBC exchanged text messages with Adegoke, who stated that he guided Akinlade through the process of applying to enter Canada. However, he denied telling Akinlade that she would have to go on a waitlist at the University of Regina.
Akinlade lost her study permit in Canada due to a fake letter and was denied when she attempted to apply for a postgraduate work permit and a temporary resident permit.
In March 2023, an IRCC officer wrote to her, stating that the department believed she knew the document was fake “on the balance of probabilities.”
Her husband, Samson Akinlade, and their eight-year-old Nigerian-born son, David, joined her in Nova Scotia in 2018 but have now lost their temporary resident status. Their younger son, born in Canada in 2021, has Canadian citizenship but lacks medical coverage due to his parents’ status.
from punch
Hmmmmm this story though. It is well.
ReplyDeleteVery unfortunate but she can't exonerate herself. After discovering that the first admission had an issue, she should have reported to IRCC before seeking admission for the 2nd college. I pray God comes thru for her and family.
DeleteHiaann oooo
ReplyDeleteNa waoooo
ReplyDeleteHello iya Boys
Hmmmm!
ReplyDeleteI pray help come for them.
ReplyDeleteAmen 🙏
DeleteI feel so bad for them...
ReplyDeleteSad...
ReplyDeleteI feel for her and her family, I wish this can be rectified and settled.
ReplyDeleteThis story should be an eye-opener to anyone who wants to relocate.
ReplyDeleteKindly apply yourself or apply through the school-accredited agent, which is always listed on the school website.
True
DeleteThanks for this
DeleteExactly. When planning to relocate especially to a first world Country you can’t afford depend on anyone. Due diligence needs to be done to avoid stories that touch. This lady had already completed her education in another University when the past came knocking.
DeleteUnfortunately she’ll have an uphill task of convincing IRCC she was not aware of the fraud.
This also happened to a large group of Indian students that came with a fake admission letter, though I don’t know the outcome of their case.
If she is truly innocent I hope they are able to successfully file a humanitarian appeal because no one wants to go back to Naija especially now.
This is heartbreaking, after going through all this process, you will now be facing trial til when. I wish it was in Nigeria this thing is happening maybe the institution will consider you to resit for another exam, but it's unfortunate it's happening in Canada where there law doesn't favour anyone both rich poor. May God intervene on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteLicious Babe
It is well. Everything will come out fine. IJN. God will see you through.
ReplyDeleteSad, hopeful it will be rectified.
ReplyDeleteAgents of darkness who can themselves travel agents and educational consults. See what they did to this woman.
ReplyDeleteMay God come through for you
So sad,I pray its rectified in her favour.
ReplyDeleteSad, pray all the money and time doesn't go to waste.
ReplyDeleteMay God come through for her 🙏
ReplyDeleteIt's well
ReplyDeleteI pray God come through for her and her family
ReplyDeleteMay God see them through. Dune of these agents and those they work with really cause problems for their clients. I hope other clients act fast to be in the right side of the law.
ReplyDelete