Nigerian Doctor Denies UK Job Scam Allegations, Threatens Legal Action Against BBC

A Nigerian medical professional, Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, has strongly refuted allegations of immigration fraud following a BBC ‘Africa Eye’ investigation that linked him to a UK job scam. Alaneme, the founder of CareerEdu, a platform assisting Nigerians in relocating abroad, has vowed to take legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for defamation.

The BBC report accuses Alaneme of charging individuals up to $13,000 for fraudulent UK care job visas. The investigation, which involved undercover recordings, claimed he was part of a network profiting from fictitious job placements for Nigerian migrants. One such recording allegedly captures Alaneme discussing payments of £2,000 per care home vacancy, plus additional commissions, for recruitment.

The UK government has been cracking down on visa fraud in the care sector, revoking over 470 licences between July 2022 and December 2024, affecting thousands of foreign workers. One of the firms mentioned in the report, Efficiency for Care, was found to have issued over 1,200 Certificates of Sponsorship despite employing only a fraction of that number.

Alaneme has dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that CareerEdu does not employ care workers but only connects job seekers with legitimate recruiters. In a statement, he reiterated his commitment to ethical practices

“I have never scammed or defrauded anyone in my life, and I never will. CareerEdu has helped over 5,000 Nigerians relocate, not just to the UK, but to various countries.”

He also criticized the BBC for what he described as a biased report, arguing that the investigation overlooked actual fraudsters while unfairly targeting him. In response to calls to take legal action, Alaneme confirmed his intent to sue the BBC, asserting that "the truth will prevail."

The controversy has sparked widespread reactions, with some urging regulatory bodies to scrutinize recruitment agencies handling overseas job placements. Meanwhile, UK authorities continue efforts to curb fraudulent activities within the care sector’s visa sponsorship system.