A Nigerian former investment company employee, Akanni Samuel Oluwarotimi, has fled the country after alleging that he survived an attempted road attack, an attack on his residence and an abduction following his decision to raise concerns over suspicious financial transactions involving billions of naira.

Oluwarotimi, who worked as a Senior Sales Executive at Adino Invest Ltd, said his ordeal began in January 2024 after he allegedly discovered irregularities while assisting with the preparation of the company’s financial statements.

He claimed that he observed alterations in the names of beneficiaries and recipients of some transactions, as well as apparent backdating and layering of transactions involving large sums of money.

According to him, some of the transactions were presented as investments in real estate and other ventures, while several allegedly occurred around the 2023 general election period.

Concerned about the implications of the transactions, Oluwarotimi said he raised questions during company meetings and urged management to ensure that the activities were properly recorded and reported to relevant government agencies.

He alleged that his concerns angered some senior officials and eventually put him at risk.

Alleged road attack
Oluwarotimi said the first major incident occurred on February 7, 2024, while he was returning home from work.

He alleged that a black Toyota vehicle followed him and later attempted to force his vehicle into a collision.

He said he managed to avoid the collision and stopped to inspect his vehicle, after which three men allegedly approached him before returning to the Toyota and driving away as traffic gathered.

He subsequently reported the incident to the police and said he made several follow-ups but was advised not to worry.

The situation allegedly escalated on March 25, 2024, when Oluwarotimi returned home from church and found his apartment ransacked.
He said his laptop had been stolen and that he discovered what appeared to be bullet marks on the walls and doors.

According to him, police officers visited the scene and documented the incident.
Although he said some authorities believed it could have been a robbery, Oluwarotimi maintained that the incident was connected to the threats he believed had emerged from his workplace dispute.

The most serious incident, according to Oluwarotimi, occurred on May 23, 2024, when he was returning home from work.
He alleged that a Land Cruiser blocked his vehicle near the entrance to his street before a masked man approached and attacked the driver’s-side window with a machete.

He said gunshots were fired into the air before he was taken away in another vehicle.
Oluwarotimi alleged that he was blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was threatened and questioned about documents he might have in his possession.

He said his brother, who was speaking with him through a video call when the incident occurred, contacted the police.

According to him, the police response disrupted the abductors’ plans and he eventually escaped.

He later travelled to Oyo State and went into hiding while making arrangements to leave Nigeria.

Oluwarotimi further alleged that unknown individuals continued to search for him in his former neighbourhood and pressured people close to him to disclose his whereabouts.

‘I could no longer stay’
Oluwarotimi said the incidents left him convinced that he could no longer remain safely in Nigeria.

“I was unsafe and my family and friends had to change addresses due to different threats by unknown individuals asking that they produce me,” he said.
He eventually left Nigeria and was admitted into the United States on July 27, 2024, using a valid visa.

He is currently seeking protection in the United States, saying he fears for his safety should he return to Nigeria.