Adekunle Olufemi Adetiloye

Nigerian Man Sentenced to 17 years 10months for Large Credit Card Fraud Scheme

On Monday, January 23 2012, Adekunle Olufemi Adetiloye, a citizen of Nigeria and resident of Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Ralph R. Erickson to 17 years and 10 months in federal prison for one of the largest and most complex credit card schemes in North Dakota banking history.

In Bismarck, U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon said, “The sentence imposed today should send a strong message to those who would seek to scam the citizens and businesses of North Dakota and the United States. We take the growing problem of foreign financial fraud seriously here and seeking justice for the victims of such crimes is a priority for our office.”

Adetiloye, 40, pleaded guilty on February 16, 2011, to participating in a scheme to defraud financial institutions and individuals out of money. Adetiloye was living in Toronto, Canada, from before January of 2005 to May of 2010, when he was extradited to the United States. During that time, Adetiloye funded a lavish lifestyle by conducting, with others, a massive fraud scheme accomplished by executing tens of thousands of fraudulent acts against individual people, financial institutions, commercial data providers, merchants, commercial mailbox companies, and state agencies. Adetiloye’s scheme compromised the personal and private information of approximately 38,000 American citizens.

According to US Department of Justice, the scheme involved tens of thousands of acts of illegal conduct throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and England. Adetiloye and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained the personal identification information from commercial data providers, such as LexisNexis and ChoicePoint, and with that information assumed the identities of those unsuspecting people to open credit card and other bank accounts at U.S. Bank and twenty other banks across the United States. Adetiloye used well over 100
different mail box addresses throughout the United States as well as approximately 100 different phone numbers with area codes representing all parts of the United States. Many of the 38,000 people whose identities were compromised filed statements with the Court detailing the awful disruption and chaos they experienced as a result of this fraud.

U.S. Attorney Purdon added, “This defendant was not easy to find and his scheme was not easy to investigate. I want to recognize the outstanding efforts of Postal Inspector Matthew Hoffman. Without Inspector Hoffman’s hard work and dedication to seeing justice done for the victims in this case, today’s sentence would never have been imposed. I also want to recognize our Canadian and British law enforcement counterparts. This case was conducted primarily from Toronto and to a lesser extent London. We could not have done this case without incredible cooperation from the Ontario Provincial Police and the City of London Police. Finally, I want to recognize the outstanding efforts by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Chase and his team in our office. The dedicated men and women of the North Dakota U.S. Attorney’s Office continue to work hard and produce great results for the people of North Dakota and the United States.”

Along with the prison term, Adetiloye will be on supervised release for three years. A hearing regarding restitution and forfeiture has been scheduled for Feb. 15, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Fargo, at 9:00 a.m.

Sources disclosed to Africaninterest.com that most Nigerians wanted by the US government for Identity theft and Credit card fraud now found safe haven in Canada.  Africaninterest.com relaibly gathered that One Taiye who escaped arrest in the arrest of over 40 Nigerians in 2008 in New York fled to Canada. Another  source disclosed that even some of these fraudsters live in Maryland, US.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Chase prosecuted the case.

• No Related Post

Press Statement on the State of the Nigerian Nation

It was with a sense of déjà vu that Nigerians resident in the Netherlands, like our compatriots all over the world, received the news of the removal of subsidy on PMS in Nigeria. While the furore resulting from the said removal of subsidy and the subsequent unilateral reduction of the pump price by the Presidency is yet to abate, we side with the millions of downtrodden Nigerians and ask that the price be returned to status quo while efforts are made to address the immediate effect of such removal.

The Nigerian Community in The Netherlands wishes to state that the Nigerian Government has never been honest and loyal in its intentions vis-à-vis previous removal of subsidy in the past. We join our people at home and abroad to say that “removal of the subsidy on fuel translates to another subsidy for the corrupt political and elite group in the country”.

We honestly see the subsidy as the only benefit that Nigerians get from the country’s oil wealth and remained assured that the money saved by ending the subsidy will only end up in individual pockets of our self-serving and corrupt leaders.

We implore the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to take a serious look at the size of his government and show honesty of intentions by first, reducing the size and openly begin to manage the “wastage in government”. The lack of trust of the people on the promises of the government cannot be condemned in any way considering Nigeria’s rating on the list of corrupt nations.

In the same breath, the NCN condemns the wanton attacks on life and properties by the Boko Haram terrorist group. We ask that the government takes its responsibility in the area of security of lives seriously and move proactively to address the issue before it becomes another divisive tool. We strongly believe that the financiers and backers of this monstrous group are not unknown to the government considering the arrest of a member of the senate and the pronouncement of the President that there are members of the group in government.

While commiserating with the families of those who lost lives and properties in the Kano attacks as well as all other previous attacks, we resolutely call on the security agents of the nation state, Nigeria, to rid itself of the corrupt elements and ensure the safety of our people.

The NCN is constituted for the betterment of sons and daughters of Nigeria living in the Netherlands within the context of the Diaspora and more importantly the overall wellbeing of Nigeria as a viable and prosperous nation. Our country Nigeria is in turmoil and has been in this state for a considerable period of time. Corruption, weak governance and abject cluelessness have contributed to a situation which is completely unacceptable to our people.

It should not come as a shock to the current government that Nigerian citizens require practical and concrete solutions to the problems facing the country now. We demand competence and credibility from our government officials of all genres. All aspects of government including security, management of oil and gas resources, education, financial management and planning need to be overhauled and recalibrated. Our populace deserves nothing less.

To this end, NCN will be organizing a seminar to discuss the situation in Nigeria at RCCG House, Hettenheuvelweg 18, 1101 BN Amsterdam Zuidoost, The Netherlands on Saturday, 28 January 2012 starting at 17:00 CET. Nigerians and other interested parties are welcome to attend.

Further mobilization activities will be communicated as the situation in Nigeria develops.

God bless Nigeria.

Signed:

The Steering Committee

Nigerian Community in the Netherlands

Amsterdam,

The Netherlands

January 24, 2012

• No Related Post

Agriculture as practiced by rural women in the north-west region of Cameroon is currently based on the ‘slash and burn’ method. ‘Slash and burn’ is an indigenous method of farming that our parents have been practicing from time immemorial – whereby grass is cut, covered with soil and burnt. Farmers use this method, commonly referred to as ‘ankara’, to get a better yield of crops like cocoyam and egusi (melon seeds), among others as the ash fertilises the soil.

But when the soil is burnt, its nutrients are destroyed and the soil is exhausted. And, when the grass is burnt, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere thus contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and to climate change. Environmentalists know the threat posed by climate change and we also know that burnt, ‘sick’ soil anywhere means sick people. One can only imagine what will happen to the northwest region in particular where more than 96 per cent of farmers there practice slash and burn.

Rural women understand that this technique is unsustainable and that the soils are already damaged from this farming method. But they say that for them to change, they need an affordable alternative.

According to Wendi Bernadette Losha, “We think the alternative is to go back to nature.” As a result of this, Losha continued, “we are launching the ‘Go Green Campaign’ in rural communities of Cameroon.” Bernadette Losha who is the the Coordinator of ACTWID-Kongadzem, a rural women’s group added that this is a first step in adapting to climate change and avoiding climate crisis for all. Their campaign’s message is telling small scale farmers that they can gather poultry waste and compost manure as fertiliser for the farms. She argued that it doesn’t require a lot of finances and minimizes environmental damage. But there are problems. The waste and compost manure is not enough for all the farms and women also find that it’s a long procedure.

Cameroon’s background is purely agrarian and many households survive on subsistence agriculture in rural communities. In rural areas most farmers cultivate rain-fed agriculture as this is cheaper than irrigation technology. ‘Slash and burn’ is mostly practiced in the seven divisions of the northwest region where farming is the chief source of livelihood. Western, south-western and northern parts of Cameroon are the same. This issue is so important for the country.

• No Related Post

Nelson Mandela

Mandela To Miss ANC’s 100th Year Celebration

Nelson Mandela will not be attending the 100th anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC) due to health issues

Party Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe announced Friday that Mandela will miss the activities saying, “he is in good spirits, but very, very old.”

It is expected, however, that Mandela will send a message to be read at the celebration.

The aging South African statesman, who turns 94 this year, is idolized by his countryman and considered the father of the anti-apartheid movement.  When Mandela was released in 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, South Africans of all races looked to him to stop their nation from falling into a racial civil war. And he did.  Serving as the ANC president from 1994 to 1999, the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s focus was to bring peace to his people.  Under his leadership, a long list of progressive social reforms were enacted to reduce inequalities amongst the country’s black population.

The ANC celebration is expected to draw more than 100,000 people and more than 40 heads-of-state and dignitaries. Emeritus Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu is expected to join Sunday’s festivities in Mangaung, Free State Province.  The party is said to be celebrating its core principles of allowing people to choose their own destiny in a “united, non-racial, non-sexist nation.”

Founded on January 8, 1912, the ANC has spiraled downward as far as its popularity.  Critics point out that the South African people are no longer the party’s focus and that corruption reigns supreme.

• No Related Post

Press Release: “OCCUPY NIGERIA” RALLY IN NEW YORK

New York, New York; January 5th 2012:

Nigerians under the auspices of the Nigerian Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) would be rallying in solidarity with the suffering masses of Nigeria over the government’s cruel increase in prices of petroleum products.

This ill advised, inhuman and sadistic 117% increase in price of fuel exposes the determination of the government to annihilate the poor Nigerian masses who are groaning under very deplorable conditions of living. A government that is incapable of rescuing  its people from the abyss of economic ruins should not exacerbate the hapless situation of the suffering masses.

To this end, Nigerians in the US would express solidarity with the Nigerian people:

Date: Tuesday January 10th 2012

Venue: The Nigerian Consulate, New York

Address: 828 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10017-4300

Corner of 44th street and 2nd Avenue

Time:     12noon

Speakers would include: Okey Ndibe, Laolu Akande, Sowore Omoyele, Adegboyega Dada, Bunmi Aborishade, Willie Nwiido and others.

1. That the Nigerian government revert to the old prices.

2. That the government institute a panel of inquiry that includes representatives of Labour, Civil society, professional bodies etc to investigate the practices of petroleum products importation, distribution and payments over the past 13 years.

3. That the report of this inquiry should form a basis for the prosecution of those individuals, companies and their collaborators who have defrauded the country through sharp practices associated with importation of petroleum products.

4. That the government ensures the four Nigerian refineries operate at installed capacities within the next 12months.

5. That the government unveil a Petrol Production and Distribution (PPD) policy that is aimed at 100% local production of petroleum products within the next 12-36months.

6. That the government audit and make public the Nigerian daily crude oil production, royalties paid by foreign oil companies, accurate local consumption inventory rather than the conflicting numbers released by various government agencies.

7. That corruption in the oil sector and other areas should be confronted and perpetrators brought to book. The poor masses should not be made to pay for the incompetence and corruption of government officials.

8. That the government should not underestimate the people’s ability and resolve to protest the continuous rape of the country by friends and cronies of government.

Join us as we express solidarity with our people at home.

Signed

Bukola Oreofe

Executive Director

NDLF

• No Related Post

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCILS OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS AND THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA

In Defence of the Nigerian People on Fuel Price Increases!

Joint Communique of the Emergency Meeting of the National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Held on Wednesday 4th January, 2012.
The National Executive Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) took place today, Wednesday 4th January, 2012.

The NLC and TUC noted that:

The Presidency announced the removal of petroleum subsidy and adjusted upward, the pump price of petrol on 1st January, 2012 even when it claimed it was consulting Nigerians.
Due to this upward review of prices, the pump price for petrol is now selling for between N141 and N200 per litre nation-wide rather than N65. This prohibitive increase in price of PMS once again confirms the position of Labour that deregulation to this government means incessant price increase of a strategic product (petrol) that impact on cost of living, cost of production and the general well-being of increasingly impoverish Nigerians.
The immediate generalized negative impact of this price increase on transport cost, food, drugs, schools fees, rents, indicate that government is totally wrong to underestimate the impact assessment of the so-called deregulation policy.

Due to the untoward hardship workers and other Nigerians are experiencing based on excessive increase in petrol prices, there have been sporadic protests by Nigerians in at least 10 cities;
These protests, which are peaceful have witnessed the use of unprecedented force by the Police leading to harassment, intimidation, arrests and the murder of a protester.
There is a subsisting understanding between Congress and the Federal government in 2009 that removal of subsidy will not commence until certain conditions have been met. These include the fixing of all the refineries and building new ones, regular power supply, and provision of other social infrastructure such as railways and repairs of roads as well as eliminating the corruption associated with supply and distribution of petroleum products in the downstream sector of the oil industry.

After exhaustive deliberations and consultations with all sections of the populace, the NLC, TUC and their pro-people allies demand that the Presidency immediately reverses fuel prices to N65. If the Government fails to do so, they direct that indefinite general strikes, mass rallies and street protests be held across the country with effect from Monday 9th January, 2012.
From that Monday, 9th January 2012 date, all offices, oil production centres, air and sea ports, fuel stations, markets, banks, amongst others will be shut down.
We advise Nigerians to stockpile basic needs especially food and water.
We call on all Nigerians to participate actively in this movement to rescue our country. The emphasis is on peaceful protests, rallies and strikes while refusing to be intimidated. Labour calls on the police, armed forces and other security agencies to reject orders that they turn their weapons on fellow Nigerians. We warn that anybody who does so, will be individually brought to justice.

The primary objective of this patriotic call and movement is to revert PMS price to N65, restore normalcy and reclaim Nigeria for Nigerians.
No Retreat!

No Surrender!!

Forward Ever!!!

Abdulwahed I. Omar Peter Esele

President, NLC President, TUC

• No Related Post

AMBASSADOR ADEFUYE OF NIGERIA MEETS WITH NASHVILLE POLICE CHIEF STEVE ANDERSON.

Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, Dr. Ade Adefuye recently visited Nashville, Tennessee.

During his visit which lasted from December 1 to December 2, the Ambassador met with state and city officials, visited educational institutions and met with the business community.  The Ambassador was welcomed to the State by Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey who expressed optimism about the potentials of increased business relations between Tennessee and Nigeria.  At the end of the meeting, Mr. Ramsey proclaimed  Dr. Adefuye as “Tennessee’s Ambassador of Goodwill”.

The Ambassador also met with Mayor Carl Dean who was very appreciative of the Ambassador’s visit. “We hope to see an increased business relationship between Nashville and Nigeria”, said Council woman Erica Gilmore who facilitated the meeting with the Mayor.

The highlight of the Ambassador’s visit was as a special guest at the passing out parade of new recruits of the Nashville Police Academy.  On introduction by Mayor Carl Dean, the Ambassador was given a thunderous ovation by the obviously excited crowd who were pleased with the Ambassador’s presence. Later, Dr. Adefuye had a meeting with Police Chief Steve Anderson at the Police headquarters. They discussed potential security relationships between the Nigerian Police and the Metro Nashville Police Department. These include trainings in Community Policing, forensics, anti-terrorism and advanced crime detection.

Given the security threat posed to the Nigerian government by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram and the Niger Delta militants, assistance by the Nashville Police department will be a welcome development. Nashville Police department has one of the most advanced anti-terrorist units in the country and its forensic laboratory is second to none. It also has one of the best Police Academies in the country.

In the past, several countries including Swaziland, Gambia and Haiti have sought the assistance of the Nashville Police department. Several years ago police officers from Gambia and Haiti were given demonstrations in bomb disposal by the department. The Gambian government also sought assistance in developing its own police academy.

The Ambassador’s visit was organized and facilitated by Dr. Leonard Madu, President of the PanAfrica Conference. He is also President of the African Caribbean Center/Institute. 

• No Related Post

Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada

Passports Now Available at the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa Canada

By Oluwaseyi Oduyela from Canada

Nigerians living in Canada who have submitted their passports for renewal over a year ago and those who have applied for new ones can now go to the High Commission for their passports. The High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, disclosed yesterday in Montreal, Canada to members of the People Democratic Party who hosted him.

According to the High Commissioner, the nightmare of getting passport renewed and the issuance of new ones have become a thing of the past now for Nigerians living in Canada. He also disclosed to his audience that the High Commission now have Nigerian Immigration personnel posted to Canada to help in this regards.

• No Related Post

Seyi Oduyela

The role of the media is no doubt critical in promoting good governance and curbing corruption. The role of the media is not only to raise public awareness about corruption, cause consequences and possible remedies but also to investigate and report incidences of corruption aiding other over sight bodies.

A critical element of a country’s anti-corruption programmes primarily should be an effective media; and the effectiveness of the media depends on access to information and freedom of expression, as well as a professional and ethical cadre of investigative journalists. In addition, such issues as private versus public ownership of the media, the need for improved protection of journalists who investigate corruption and media regulation are critical. The corrupting of the media mission through excessive reliance on advertisers and sponsors is one of the major problems in Nigeria, where political manipulation remains a more powerful influence, but increasing commercialisation carriers with it real.

Sometimes, too, journalists’ stories can play a significant role in reinforcing the effectiveness of public anti-corruption bodies. Simply reporting in a regular, detailed way on the work and findings of these bodies can reinforce public scrutiny of them and, hence, the independence of such bodies from vested interests within the power structure that might otherwise be tempted to interfere in their work. Even when reporting on outright corruption or other questionable behaviour by public office holders does not lead directly to indictments, prosecutions or impeachment, it can still help shape public hostility to such activities that can ultimately lead to electoral defeat for individual politicians or, indeed, for entire governments.

While greater accountability from public figures to the public is important, the media themselves have to be accountable. That is awareness by journalists that whatever they write must promote, preserve and entrench the democracy for which they have been given a definite role in the constitution.

The most effective system for guaranteeing freedom of the press is one where the press itself must be able to make careful judgments on its own. Self-discipline, self-consciousness of media workers, the code of ethics that members of the profession accept are important elements of media accountability.

The tradition must provide for the press to be tough in its scrutiny of the work of those who enjoy the public trust. The press culture, evident in many democracies today, contains a sense that is the duty of the press to afflict the comfortable, in order to comfort the afflicted. Undoubtedly, such a culture can lead to press irresponsibility at times. Complaints about invasion of privacy by the press are not new. This is an inevitable price to pay, and an independent wise judiciary and an effective Press Council may be able to assist in checking excesses.

Primarily the media themselves must shoulder the burden of ensuring a responsible, independent media. They must demonstrate their independence objectivity and professionalism each and every day in order to earn public trust and confidence.

Just as we have problem with public figures, we also have with media employers who in turn are allies of some of the public figures. In some cases some of them are owners of media or assist media owners with contracts, so they protect them and whoever tries to expose such corrupt office holder set to lose his/her job. This has turned most media houses in Nigeria to commercial enterprises with profit motive. The owners of media do not ensure payment of wages and salaries; this exposes the journalists to corruption too. Some media owners use stories submitted by their reporters to blackmail those involved making money and later sending the story to the dustbin.

I have heard several times in news rooms a case of editors regarding certain individuals in our society as “friends of the House” These “friends” are protected, nothing negative comes out against them in the papers. I recollect a case of one Airline owner in Nigeria who owed his pilot, it was a case of fraud, the Airline was able to buy journalists covering the beat but one of them refused to be bought, he insisted on reporting it, the Public Relations Officer of the company got to my friend’s office before him, that was the end of the story. As he was settling down to write the story his editor walked to him, apparently acting on orders from “above” told him to drop the idea. My friend few months later was fired.

To me the issue of the freedom of the press goes beyond attack by the state and its agencies, it is more of welfare of the journalist than state intimidation. Yes the state intimidates; this may come physically or in terms of material harassment.

The last four year showed how money can determine who has what. Surprisingly there was a transfer of allegiance on the part of the Nigerian Media from the afflicted to the comfortable. We see clearly how states governments who did not do anything buy 23 pages of magazines and newspapers for what is coined as “special reports”, “Insight”, and so many annoying terms. When in actual fact it is glaring to the whole world that these governments did not do anything to improve the lives of their subjects. The press unfortunately took side with these rogues in power to insult the sensibility of poor Nigerians and deemed the hope of those who expect the truth from the media. as a media man myself I feel ashamed of myself that we failed our people and invariably failed our society. Rather than playing the watchdog the media become an accomplice of these corrupt office holders. It is amazing that no press saw anything bad in the way Governors of the oil producing states squandered the special allocations given to them. Bayelsa in spite of what it got cannot boast of any improvement in lives of its people.

Most journalists posted to governments houses as correspondents are on monthly payrolls of the respective state governments. I know correspondents who were redeployed by their employers based on recommendations of government that feel uncomfortable with the journalist’s stories. Their employers heeded because they are also contractors of the state governments. Take for instance journalists participating in the sewage scheme in Lagos State. How do they report if the scheme is not functioning well?

During the shameful media tour embarked upon by the Smart Adeyemi led NUJ in 2000, it was discovered that in Kogi state some of the uncompleted road works were contracts given to Smart Adeyemi the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ. No journalist on that tour reported it, same thing in Adamawa State. The tour was nothing but a conspiracy of the government with the NUJ to insult Nigerians. Most of these journalists came back from the tour buying cars, as their own “dividend of democracy.” Many of them today are forever grateful to Smart Adeyemi for including them on the tour, which in fact was responsible for his return for second term of misrule and misguided leadership of the NUJ.

That a large section of the Nigerian media has lost credibility, in the face of money politics is a factual statement. Journalists now feel at ease lobbying to become press secretaries than doing what they were trained to do. We now have journalists as press secretaries of Governors, Ministers, and Commissioners even Local Government Councilors.

Ministry of Information that should provide press secretaries for these office holders are by-passed and journalists who do not have civil service experience are brought in to do the job of civil servants.

Before 1985, civil servants from the Information Ministry are usually the Chief press Secretary to the government, but as soon as the Shehu Shagari government was sent packing by the military junta of Buhari, now a civilian presidential aspirant of All Nigeria Peoples Party, the idea of deploying Information ministry personnel to the State House as press secretary was abolished and Wada Maida was called for the US to be the first political appointee press secretary. And since 1984 no civil servant from the information ministry was appointed.

The politicians are becoming more tactical. They know that having a professional journalist as press secretary is a shield from investigation by the media. Rather than managing information and disseminating information about the activities of the government, the journalist now becomes and image launderer for the governor. His duty is to make sure that no negative story comes out in the papers against their boss. They quit their reporting and watchdog job to take up the job of fire brigade for corrupt officers to mop up negative stories on the street.

This new development is worrisome!

• No Related Post

Olakunle Teniola

Coventry University Student Missing After Jumping into Amazonian Lake in Brazil

By Adebayo Somuyiwa/London

FRIENDS of Olakunle Teniola are baffled by reports that the Coventry University student jumped into a Amazonian lake – because he cannot swim.

The 20-year-old, who was studying to be a youth worker, has been missing since he went into the Acajatuba Lake in Brazil on Tuesday while working as a missionary in the country.

This was the first time the city man, known to friends as Kunle, has taken his missionary work abroad after previously working with young and homeless people in Coventry.

A large-scale search operation, involving the Brazilian navy, fishermen and local villagers, has been mounted.

Loved ones have been told Kunle and others had been travelling on a boat on the lake in the Amazon jungle while on their way to a nearby village, as part of their missionary expedition.

During the trip the boat was stopped and those on board were invited to have a swim.

Leaders of the trip have told relatives that Kunle, who could not swim, joined another group member in the lake but did not come back to the surface.

Benson Akinsola has known Kunle since they both began studying at Coventry University two years ago.

He said: “When he heard about the charity’s work, there was no doubt he was going to do it.

“There’s no way he would be going into the water, he is scared of the water. He doesn’t even go swimming with us.”

Friends say Kunle, who lives with fellow students in the city centre, while his mum, brother and sister live in Tile Hill, had been working hard to raise the money needed to fund the missionary trip led by the charities Sent in the UK and Ray of Hope in Brazil.

Best friend Abigail Moronkeji was the first to hear of Kunle’s disappearance in a phone call in the early hours of Wednesday.

She said: “He went to Brazil to help the communities there and he had done a lot of fundraising to fund the trip there.

“He went there to tell people about God but also to help them physically too with food and clothes.

“He had a tough upbringing in Hackney in London, so he wanted to help other young people.

“He was a bit scared about the trip but also excited. His faith is everything to him, he loves God with all his heart.”

Abigail said she had been in touch with Kunle during his trip via Facebook and Skype.

She said: “I can’t live my life without him, he can’t be gone.

“There’s no way to explain it, it seems so unreal.

“You don’t expect something like this to happen to someone so close to you.

“It’s reassuring that so many people are now looking for him and so many people have got in touch. It shows how much he is loved.”

Meanwhile, Kunle’s aunt Yemisi Karunwi said: “The family is not happy. I am in the middle of planning his 21st birthday party.

“I am hoping he walks back home. Anything else is not an option.”

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “A British national has been reported missing in Manaus, Brazil on Tuesday July 12.

“We are providing consular assistance to the family and we are in touch with the local authorities.”

• No Related Post