The legal representatives of Ambassador Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a former governorship candidate in Ogun State, have formally petitioned the United States Embassy, requesting a review of the recent visa denial issued to him and his wife, Mrs. Oyindamola Motunrola Ajadi.

In a letter dated August 18, 2025, the law firm Izunya Izunya & Co., led by Barrister Isaac Izunya, described the refusal as unjustified, lacking specific reasons, and contrary to diplomatic norms between both countries.

Addressed to the U.S. Consular General at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, the petition calls for an official reassessment of the decision, which was based on Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. The letter was also forwarded to the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria in Abuja for further attention.

Ajadi, who is the CEO of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, with business interests across beverage production, real estate, music (Bullion Records), and boxing promotions, had applied for a business visa alongside his wife. Their application followed an official invitation from Tunnad Properties, a U.S.-based real estate firm. Attached documents, including an invitation dated May 15, 2025, showed the couple complied fully with all application requirements and attended their interview in Abuja.

Despite this, a visa refusal was issued on August 4, 2025, referencing Section 214(b), which generally applies to applicants who fail to sufficiently prove strong ties to their home country.

Barrister Izunya, however, contested the decision, arguing that the denial notice was “vague, generic, and inadequately presented,” as it lacked key identifiers such as the applicants' names, passport numbers, or application IDs. He further stated that the cited law was not directly tied to the Ajadis’ circumstances, calling the decision inconsistent with international best practices.

“We find it unacceptable that a country as advanced as the United States would issue a visa denial without properly identifying the applicants or offering a clear explanation,” the legal team stated.

The petition stressed that both applicants maintain strong local ties, with active businesses in Nigeria and investments abroad, including in Grenada and the United Kingdom. The legal team maintained that failure to provide a valid explanation violates the principles of reciprocity expected in bilateral visa agreements.

They further argued that the denial has caused significant emotional distress to the couple, who, according to them, were subjected to an opaque process lacking in accountability.

Among the requests submitted to the Consular General were:

A review of CCTV and audio recordings from the visa interview;

Re-examination of all supporting documents submitted by the applicants;

Clear, specific grounds for denial, if the decision is to be upheld.

The U.S. Ambassador in Abuja was also copied in the petition to encourage higher-level diplomatic intervention.

This follows earlier comments by Ajadi, who recently criticized the U.S. visa system, accusing it of serving as a tool for economic exploitation. Speaking in Ogun State, he described the process as non-transparent and exploitative.

“The United States collects $185 per applicant as a non-refundable visa fee. Multiply that by hundreds of thousands of applicants yearly, and you have a financial pipeline from Nigeria straight to the U.S. economy,” he said.

“My name is distinct, just like every applicant’s. Each person deserves a specific reason for denial. Instead, we are handed impersonal rejection slips. This is not transparency—it is systemic exploitation. Nigerians deserve better.”