Travel agent listed woman as my wife in visa application, UK-based Nigerian says in court

A Nigerian resident of the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, is suing a travel agent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. Makinde alleges that the agent, Mr Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta, fraudulently listed an unknown woman as his wife on a 2022 visa application.

During his evidence‑in‑chief before Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo, Makinde said the agent added Miss Dolapo Afusat Yusuf as his legally married wife without his consent. He explained that Shitta was introduced to him by his pastor, Mr Aregbesola Sanyanolu of the Celestial Church of Christ, Jerusalem Parish, Ado‑Ekiti.

Makinde further told the court that the information supplied by the agent later caused serious problems with UK authorities when he tried to bring his wife to the United Kingdom.

Shitta is now on trial for allegedly arranging a fraudulent marriage for Miss Afusat Yusuf to facilitate her travel abroad using Makinde’s identity.

Makinde stated, “Throughout my dealings with the defendant, I consistently informed him that I was single for the purpose of my UK student visa application. After my wife completed her studies in 2024, I submitted an application for her to join me in the United Kingdom.”

He added, “One day while I was at work, I received an email from the UK Home Office requesting that I provide official evidence that my partner’s previous marriage had been officially dissolved by the relevant court. I immediately sent a voice note to the defendant together with a screenshot of the Home Office email, explaining the consequences of the message I had received. After viewing the message, he blocked me on WhatsApp.”

Makinde said, “I then contacted my pastor and informed him that we needed to report the defendant to the authorities. However, my pastor stopped responding to my messages and calls.”

He continued, “Two days later, I replied to the Home Office and informed them that I had never been married to any woman other than my wife. The visa application was refused because the Home Office believed that I already had a marriage on record in the United Kingdom.”

Makinde also told the court that the agent instructed him to answer “yes” when he was asked during his biometric appointment whether all supporting documents had been uploaded. He emphasized that at no point did he instruct Shitta to include Miss Afusat Yusuf as his wife in any visa application.

According to Makinde, he consistently informed the defendant that he was applying for the visa alone and that there was no dependant on his application.

The matter was adjourned until 7 October 2026 for the continuation of Makinde’s evidence before the court.