Almost a year after telling the uncomfortable truth about Japa, Nigerian born YouTuber based in the United Kingdom, Emdee Tiamiyu, has been arrested on allegations of fraud, according to multiple social media posts and media reports.
In May last year, Tiamiyu made headlines following an interview with the BBC where he revealed that most Nigerians on student visas in the UK used schooling abroad to escape Nigeria’s harsh economy.
The interview reportedly influenced the UK government’s decision to impose restrictions on Nigerian students, specifically barring them from bringing family members to the UK unless they are enrolled in PhD programmes.
Following the controversial interview, Tiamiyu is alleged to have defrauded the UK government of £160,000. Reports suggest that the funds, intended for resettlement purposes, were instead used by Tiamiyu to construct a house in his native Ogun State in Nigeria.
The allocation of the resettlement funds by the UK government was presumably to aid Tiamiyu’s integration and financial stability within the country, particularly after his asylum claim post-interview.
The UK government has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrest or the specifics of the fraud allegations. The situation remains fluid, with potential implications for bilateral relations and the international student community in the UK.
