A popular diaspora Obidient, Mr. Benjamin Kuti popularly known as Oluomo of Derby who was caught in a web of fraud has finally bowed to pressure to resign as the President of the Nigerians in the UK community (NIUK) after admitting guilt in the over £100,000 fraud controversy that has raged on for weeks now.
The embattled NIUK President in a post on his X handle (@Oluomoofderby) said he “regrets his lack of absolute accountability and transparency to the community” and takes full responsibility for the turn of events over the past couple of years.
The vociferous Peter Obi supporter who campaigned vigorously for the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election on the mantra of a “New Nigeria is POssible”, announced that he will be stepping down as the president of the NIUK and handing over to a new elected President once the community schedule elections.
Mr. Benjamin Kuti begged the members of the Nigerians in the UK community to forgive his shortcomings, wrong statements, decisions and actions that have disappointed the members of the community. He appealed for a second chance to prove his commitment to the NIUK community.
He also promised to refund to the Community bank account all the “stipends” he received from the funds accruing to the community by March 2025. It is unclear how much the “stipend” amount to.
Below is the post made by the embattled Oluomo of Derby announcing his resignation:
“It has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to have created this community here on X, and to be the President these past years. More importantly to be regarded as a leader enough to have gained the trust of many members of the community. I don’t take this for granted.
My heart and passion has always been that every Nigerian gets the help they need in the UK and this has and will always be at the heart of my intentions for the creation of this community.
I take full responsibility for the turn of events over the years, and the current unsettling state of the community. I regret my lack of absolute accountability and transparency to the community and to this end I have carefully thought the following decisions through in the interest of furthering our community’s goals:
1. I am happy to handover the presidency of the community to the next elected President at the chosen time of the community to conduct its elections. However as the founder of the community, will remain a PSC of the company.
2. I will be stepping down as a Moderator and all posts made with the official handle will be at the approval of the NEB.
3. In the interim, the 5-man NEB should be elected immediately and I will sign an undertaken to be fully transparent with them granting them the powers to vote me out when asked to with requisite evidence.
4. I will carry the DRT along with all outcomes of the current police report and alongside keep the community informed with any updates as I receive updates.
5. I will like to appeal to the community to allow my Executives and I for the interim period till the elections, under the strict supervision of the NEB, to carry on with the community to ensure a smooth transition to the next elected officials as earlier stated to the community.
6. As earlier stated in various X Spaces and Townhall meetings, I have no access to the bank account, the email addresses and the access to our companies house login details. This means I don’t have any powers to remove or appoint any directors or have any access to the funds in the accounts.
7. To prevent any form of recurrence of past events, I will not be doing anything on behalf of the community without carrying the NEB along.
8. Most importantly, I am fully committed to ensuring that this community succeeds and I call on everyone who ever believed in me at any point, to give me another chance of proving my commitment to the furtherance of our dear community.
9. I also will be refunding the community bank account of all stipends I’ve received by end of March 2025.
10. Please forgive my shortcomings, my wrong statements, decisions and actions that have disappointed you all.
Thank you all for your continued support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Oluomo of Derby”
It will be recalled that late last month, Podium Reporters reported how Mr. Benjamin Kuti (Oluomo of Derby) was accused by one of the original founders of the Nigerian in the UK community, Dr. Dipo Awojide of turning the community into a business venture following revelations of commercial partnership deals entered into by Oluomo of Derby with companies such as Lemfi (a migrant international money transfer company) on behalf of NIUK without their knowledge.
Oluomo of Derby without the knowledge of most members of the NIUK community in late 2022 registered the NIUK Community as a company instead of a charity organisation and has been going into secret deals with brands on behalf of the Community without any form of accountability.
In sharp contrast to his public posturing of seeking accountability from elected public officials, Oluomo of Derby moved against any individual within the community that questioned his high handedness or lack of accountability. He was accused of deleting posts and removing individuals who tried to expose his secret deals.