“N700,000 Lost To Fake Lawyer” — Lady Falls Victim To Romance Scammer Posing As Fulbright Scholar, California Bar Graduate

A Nigerian woman identified only as Busola fell victim to a sophisticated romance scam orchestrated by Adeola Adesoye Omojola, a serial fraudster posing as a lawyer and Fulbright Scholar. The scam, which promised a fake overseas relocation opportunity, exploited Busola’s desire to emigrate, costing her N700,000 and revealing a pattern of deception targeting vulnerable women.

The scam began with a Facebook post on July 15 by influencer Patrick Izu, who shared an anonymous message from one of his 43,000 followers: “Hello Pat, pls, I need a lady who has a valid passport and is ready to travel with me after a solo wedding. I’m relocating and that’s the only step remaining. I am a candidate for an academic grant and it’s worth it. The departure date is around November.” Izu captioned it, “Girls dey get opportunities pass men,” prompting over 1,000 likes and 574 comments, many warning of potential fraud, kidnapping, or worse. Despite these red flags, Busola responded, hoping to leave Nigeria, where she had lived for 30 years.

Omojola, from Ikare in Ondo State, used WhatsApp to lure Busola with promises of a US relocation via a fake Fulbright Scholarship. He falsely claimed to be a lawyer, asserting he had passed the California Bar Exam, and impersonated Omojola Joseph Olaoye, a legitimate lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007. Operating under aliases like “Ade Ola Mie” on Facebook and “Strix Attorney” on TikTok, Omojola’s history of fraud dates back to at least 2021. A 2021 X post by Human Rights Voice exposed him as an impersonator, citing forged documents claiming ties to Netcom Africa and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Another victim, “LadyFiddy,” reported losing N13,500 to Omojola in 2021 after he proposed marriage and stole items from her.

Busola, a hospitality worker with a valid passport, believed she met Omojola’s criteria. He claimed the scholarship required a married candidate, proposing a sham wedding at the Ikoyi Federal Marriage Registry to obtain a marriage certificate. To gain her trust, he sent view-once photos of supposed scholarship documents and urged her to visit the US Consulate in Lagos for “spousal registration.” On July 16, Busola traveled from Ogun State to the consulate but was denied entry without an appointment. Omojola then provided a contact, “Dr. Elizabeth PhD,” allegedly a supervisor, who demanded $26 (N40,000) for an appointment. Truecaller revealed the number as “Adeola The Law,” exposing Omojola’s ruse. Busola sent N40,000 to his account, followed by N700,000 for a fake flight ticket after he sent a forged airline booking screenshot.

Omojola’s tactics included emotional manipulation, using terms like “babe” and “love,” and pressuring Busola to visit him in Ikare or Abuja, claiming his parents wanted to meet her. When Busola insisted he visit her mother in Ogun State, he cited safety concerns and a busy schedule. His request for Busola to get pregnant before traveling raised her suspicions, but she initially overlooked red flags, driven by the promise of relocation.

Growing restless after sending her savings, Busola researched Omojola and discovered his criminal history. A contact in Ikare confirmed he was a known fraudster, previously an office assistant in a law firm, not a lawyer. On August 6, with help from Azeez Jimoh at the Ikare Police Area Command, Omojola was arrested. He confessed to the scam, admitting he used Busola’s money to settle debts and buy a N140,000 phone. Police found law texts and attorney-styled photos in his apartment, reinforcing his impersonation. Omojola had a prior conviction for impersonation, having been jailed for posing as a lawyer to secure bail for suspects.

Another victim, a woman from Delta State, was found stranded in Ikare after Omojola lured her with false visa promises. His uncle, who housed him in Ikare, expressed frustration, noting Omojola’s orphan status and repeated scams. Omojola showed no remorse, claiming he could not repay Busola and was ready to plead guilty in court. However, Busola faces challenges pursuing justice due to the financial burden of traveling between Ogun and Ondo for court proceedings. On August 12, she told FIJ, “I am compelled to leave everything to God at this point,” citing the unlikelihood of recovering her money.

Izu, the influencer, declined to comment and instead issued threats to the reporter: “Don’t worry, soon, you will be picked.”