A United Kingdom-based Nigerian YouTuber, Emdee Tiamiyu, has been arrested over allegations relating to fraud.
Tiamiyu, who gained notoriety a few months ago for a contentious interview with the BBC over Nigerian immigrants, is currently under investigation over a financial dispute involving the UK government, according to a video circulating on social media.
The incident has its roots in a recent BBC interview where Tiamiyu made comments regarding Nigerian students studying in the UK. He implied that many of them use the student visa system to work and bring their families to the nation rather than for academic purposes.
According to reports, the interview had an impact on the UK government’s decision to restrict Nigerian students, preventing them from bringing family members to the country unless they were enrolled in PhD programs.
As a result of the controversial interview, Tiamiyu is alleged to have defrauded the UK government of £160,000.
The report suggested 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.
