Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian medical doctor, has been accused of exploiting vulnerable Nigerians by charging high fees for fraudulent UK work visas.
However, Alaneme firmly denied the accusations, asserting that his goal has always been to help Nigerians secure legitimate job opportunities abroad.
An investigation by the BBC’s Africa Eye revealed that Alaneme, through his agency CareerEdu, allegedly charged up to $13,000 for fake job placements in the UK’s care sector.
Secretly recorded footage showed him trying to recruit an undercover journalist as an agent, promising substantial financial rewards.
The investigation claimed that the scam took advantage of the UK’s Health and Care Worker visa scheme, which mandates that applicants obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed employer.
Fraudulent agents, including Alaneme, are accused of selling CoS for jobs that did not exist.
The BBC’s findings highlighted that between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK government revoked over 470 care sector licenses, affecting the employment of more than 39,000 foreign care workers and medical professionals.
One such company, Efficiency for Care, issued 1,234 CoS but was found to have significantly fewer actual employees before its license was revoked in July 2023.
A Nigerian victim, referred to as Praise, claimed he paid Alaneme over £10,000 ($13,000) for a care job at Efficiency for Care but discovered upon arrival that the position was nonexistent.
In response to these accusations, Alaneme denied any involvement in fraudulent activities.
He stated that CareerEdu has successfully assisted over 5,000 Nigerians in relocating to countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States.
He emphasized that his agency connects qualified candidates with licensed employers and guarantees refunds to applicants who are unsuccessful.
Alaneme’s supporters have also come to his defense, with one former classmate describing him as a highly intelligent and religious individual, insisting that he could not be involved in any fraudulent schemes.
