Lola Akinlade’s Canadian Dream Turns Sour: Amid Allegations of Fake Documents, Immigration Limbo and Heart-Wrenching Uncertainty
When Lola Akinlade strode across the stage to receive her social services diploma from the Nova Scotia Community College in 2019, her face beamed with pride. Little did she know that lurking beneath her joy was a troubling revelation that would turn her life upside down.
Originally from Nigeria, Akinlade’s dreams of studying in Canada were shattered when she received a shocking letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) weeks before her graduation. The letter alleged that one of the documents she used to enter Canada in 2016 was fake, leaving her and her family with no immigration status and a future marred by uncertainty.
Akinlade, who believed she was a victim of a “rogue agent,” is now fighting to clear her name and salvage her family’s precarious situation. The IRCC’s scrutiny on international student acceptance letters has unearthed over 9,000 instances of fake letters since 2023, casting a shadow of doubt over Akinlade’s case.
Her journey to Canada began with hopes of pursuing a master’s degree, guided by an immigration consultant who provided her with a study permit and an acceptance letter to the University of Regina. However, fate took a cruel turn when she discovered the letter was counterfeit after being stopped over in Winnipeg.
Now, Akinlade and her family face deportation, unable to work or attend school, with their Canadian dream hanging by a thread. Despite selling their home in Nigeria to fund her education, their savings are dwindling as they struggle to survive without legal status in Canada.
Akinlade’s lawyer, Amanat Sandhu, highlights the prevalence of “rogue agents” who exploit immigrants, echoing the concerns of Canadian schools grappling with the misuse of their brands by unscrupulous individuals. The IRCC’s efforts to verify acceptance letters aim to curb fraud, but the collateral damage on genuine students like Akinlade raises questions about the system’s fairness and accountability.
As Akinlade awaits a decision on her humanitarian application to stay in Canada, she remains steadfast in her belief of innocence, hoping for a second chance to prove her genuine intentions. In the midst of this harrowing ordeal, she reflects on the harsh realities of navigating a complex immigration system as a vulnerable newcomer, yearning for closure and justice in a
When Lola Akinlade strode across the stage to receive her social services diploma from the Nova Scotia Community College in 2019, her face beamed with pride. Little did she know that lurking beneath her joy was a troubling revelation that would turn her life upside down.
Originally from Nigeria, Akinlade’s dreams of studying in Canada were shattered when she received a shocking letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) weeks before her graduation. The letter alleged that one of the documents she used to enter Canada in 2016 was fake, leaving her and her family with no immigration status and a future marred by uncertainty.
Akinlade, who believed she was a victim of a “rogue agent,” is now fighting to clear her name and salvage her family’s precarious situation. The IRCC’s scrutiny on international student acceptance letters has unearthed over 9,000 instances of fake letters since 2023, casting a shadow of doubt over Akinlade’s case.
Her journey to Canada began with hopes of pursuing a master’s degree, guided by an immigration consultant who provided her with a study permit and an acceptance letter to the University of Regina. However, fate took a cruel turn when she discovered the letter was counterfeit after being stopped over in Winnipeg.
Now, Akinlade and her family face deportation, unable to work or attend school, with their Canadian dream hanging by a thread. Despite selling their home in Nigeria to fund her education, their savings are dwindling as they struggle to survive without legal status in Canada.
Akinlade’s lawyer, Amanat Sandhu, highlights the prevalence of “rogue agents” who exploit immigrants, echoing the concerns of Canadian schools grappling with the misuse of their brands by unscrupulous individuals. The IRCC’s efforts to verify acceptance letters aim to curb fraud, but the collateral damage on genuine students like Akinlade raises questions about the system’s fairness and accountability.
As Akinlade awaits a decision on her humanitarian application to stay in Canada, she remains steadfast in her belief of innocence, hoping for a second chance to prove her genuine intentions. In the midst of this harrowing ordeal, she reflects on the harsh realities of navigating a complex immigration system as a vulnerable newcomer, yearning for closure and justice in a
