UK-based social media influencer, Adetutu Balogun, has revealed why some Nigerians are not helping their fellow countrymen to settle in the United Kingdom.
She narrated her personal experience, having been in a difficult situation after helping a Nigerian in the UK in the past.
According to the Tweep who tweets via @Tutsy22, she and her husband accommodated a church member in their former flat, only to find out he hadn’t been paying rent for three years
She tweeted “All day, I’ve been seeing posts about Nigerians not helping Nigerians to settle in the UK… Let me tell you from my own experience, a deeply upsetting experience!
“After buying our first House in the UK. My Husband & l decided to buy the council flat we just moved out of.
“Pending the time to get the funds needed ready, we gave the flat to a guy from my church who just landed in the UK. At that time, he was sleeping on someone’s couch.
“Few mistakes that l made:
- l gave the council payment book to him to pay rent directly to the council, instead of collecting the rent myself.
- l left the BT phone in my husband’s name on, because he couldn’t apply for connection with BT, due to his legal status.
“Fastforward 3 years after, he mounted debts of £4,000+ on the house… rent, bt phone, council tax etc.
“When the council contacted us via the flat, this guy took the letter & impersonated my husband in court. He forged my husband’s signature in the court documents.
“A year after, my husband was in the middle of a property deal, when he was told that he has a County Court Judgment (CCJ is a type of court order that might be registered against you). My husband was shocked and confused about this… my spirit went straight to this guy.
“Although, we regularly exchange pleasantries at church, but l decided to call him & ask him if everything was fine.
“He told me during the call, that he had issue with paying rent, bla bla … l was in complete shock.
“l told my husband, where the issue of CCJ came from.
“My church got involved… we both met with our Pastor.
“The church loan him some of the money & l paid majority of the debt. As a charity org, church can only loan so much.
- We lost the flat bcos of what he signed in court,
- He ran away from church & no contact from him.
“l cleared the debt because of my husband property business, a CCJ will be bad for the business.
“Five years after, l was then a Test Manager at BBC – White City, guess the CV that landed on my desk? 
“So, the lesson here is not that ‘Nigerians already settled in the UK are not helping other Nigerians,’ Far from it.
“But our own experience – especially our painful experiences – can become the obstacle in helping others.”
Her tweets immediately got many Nigerians talking on the social media.
A tweep @violetibeh said: “I love this thread, because of the end. Especially cause you agree some Nigerians are helpful. The narrative making the rounds now negative & differ cause I know the thousands of Nigerians my friends & I have helped and still helping.
“What did you do with this guy’s CV though? ”
@frosheman, quite critical in his analysis, said: “This is surely a disheartening experience but just a few clarification. Right what this guy did was fraud , and impersonation, to say the least . So why is he roaming free?Was he reported? Was he not? I mean, forging someone signature is a crime and others are crime.
“Did you buy your own house and left the guy in there while council thinks you are still renting and still living in there? Cos that seems to be the situation. Cos I just wondered why someone who impersonated you, forged your signature is still left alone.
“There’s more to this story. If you have given the guy the flat to in illegally, this might be why he has the gut and confidence to rip you off and defraud you with confidence and you let him go. I’m not justifying his actions, I’m just analysing your story .Lots doesn’t add up.”
Another Twitter user, @Olulucious stated after @Tutsy22’s experience, it will be difficult to trust anyone except family.
“After this experience it will be difficult to trust except someone relatively close or family member
“Awon Yoruba a ni, “Abere re lokun ndi”
”
@Okeibunor11 weighed in on @Tutsy22’s experience, stating: “My empathies. I have learnt that Ingratitude & Irresponsibility are the default mode of man. It takes conscious discipline to be grateful 4 pple’s assistance&responsible for the chance they give. Those who remain in default mode are a liability to d rest who are work in progress.”
@EmpressHally also tweeted: “God bless. Everyone thinks helping someone is an easy task, mostly strangers at that. Half of them won’t help you if you arrive in Lagos with your luggages on your head. Smh”
