Mass resignations hit Nigerian community in UK amid corruption allegations

Several leaders of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom have resigned from their posts following allegations of financial mismanagement.

Benjamin Kuti, also known as Oluomo of Derby, the president of the community, announced his resignation after facing severe criticism over the management of the group’s finances.

Kuti, who founded the community’s Twitter group with over 75,000 members, admitted to his shortcomings in handling the organization and took full responsibility for its troubled state.

In a statement posted on Twitter (X), Kuti expressed regret for the lack of transparency and accountability, vowing to step down as president and leave the community’s future elections to choose his successor.

He confirmed that, although he would step down from the leadership role, he would remain involved in the community as a member of the PSC.

Other leaders, including Ayinde, who served as a volunteer consultant, also resigned. Ayinde stated that he had fulfilled his responsibilities regarding financial statements and tax filings for the community, marking the completion of his role.

Rullah, another leader, also accepted responsibility for his actions and vowed to refund the money he had received, committing to repay the amount back into the official community account.

The resignations follow allegations of financial irregularities within the community. Members questioned the sharp increase in expenditure from £9,440.41 in 2023 to £68,224.11 in 2024, pointing to discrepancies in the reported expenses, including the cost of end-of-year parties and donations.

Despite these resignations, many members are not satisfied and continue to demand further transparency regarding the community’s financial dealings. Some leaders have restricted their posts as the situation remains unresolved.

Source: Punch Newspaper