A Nigerian medical doctor, Kelvin Alaneme, has been implicated in an alleged immigration scam, with reports suggesting he exploited vulnerable Nigerians seeking jobs in the United Kingdom (UK). Alaneme, the founder of CareerEdu, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he has helped over 5,000 Nigerians relocate abroad legally.
An undercover investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Africa Eye revealed that Alaneme allegedly charged individuals up to $13,000 for fraudulent UK care worker visas. The scheme involved the sale of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for non-existent jobs, a critical document required for obtaining the UK Health and Care Worker visa.
During a secretly recorded meeting, Alaneme reportedly attempted to recruit the BBC’s undercover journalist as an agent, promising financial gains for securing care home vacancies. He allegedly offered to pay £2,000 ($2,600) per vacancy, with an additional commission of £500 ($650). These positions were then marketed to Nigerian job seekers, many of whom later discovered the jobs did not exist upon arrival in the UK.
The BBC’s investigation further revealed that Alaneme’s alleged operations were linked to Efficiency for Care, a UK-based care company that had its sponsorship license revoked in July 2023. Despite employing only 16 staff in 2022 and 152 in 2023, the company reportedly issued 1,234 CoS documents between March 2022 and May 2023.
One victim, identified as Praise, claimed to have paid over £10,000 ($13,000) for a job at Efficiency for Care, only to realize upon arrival that no such position existed.
Responding to the allegations, Alaneme denied any fraudulent activities, stating: “I have never scammed or defrauded anyone in my life. CareerEdu has successfully helped Nigerians relocate not just to the UK but also to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Oman, and the United States.” He maintained that his agency only connects job seekers with licensed employers and recruiters, adding that any additional costs are clearly communicated to clients, with refunds available if placements are unsuccessful.
Supporters of Alaneme have come to his defense, with a former classmate, Tony Chuma, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “This guy was one of the most intelligent and religious students back in high school. Saying he’s a scammer is very alien. I believe the BBC did not get its facts right.”
The BBC report has reignited concerns over the rise in immigration scams targeting Nigerians, particularly since the UK expanded its visa scheme in 2022 to include care workers. Between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK government revoked over 470 care sector sponsorship licenses, affecting more than 39,000 recruited foreign workers.
Authorities in the UK have yet to confirm whether Alaneme will face legal action over the allegations.
