ABUJA — The legal team of Nigerian businessman and former governorship candidate, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has petitioned the United States Embassy in Lagos, challenging the recent denial of U.S. visas to him and his wife, Mrs. Oyindamola Motunrola Ajadi.
In a letter dated August 18, 2025, the law firm of Izunya Izunya & Co., led by Barrister Isaac Izunya, requested the embassy to revisit its decision, which had been based on Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. The correspondence, directed to the U.S. Consular General at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, was also copied to the U.S. Ambassador in Abuja.
The petition described the refusal as “unsubstantiated,” stressing that the notice of denial did not include the applicants’ names, case numbers, or passport details. The lawyers urged the embassy to carefully re-examine both the interview records and supporting documents previously submitted.
Mr. and Mrs. Ajadi had applied for U.S. business visas after receiving an official invitation from Tunnad Properties, a real estate firm based in the United States. They presented an invitation letter dated May 15, 2025, along with other documents, during their interview at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. However, the applications were rejected on August 4, 2025, under Section 214(b), which typically applies when an applicant is deemed not to have sufficiently demonstrated strong ties to their home country.
Barrister Izunya, in the petition, argued that the decision lacked proper justification and asked the embassy to:
Review CCTV footage and audio recordings of the visa interview,
Reassess all supporting documents submitted by the applicants, and
Provide clear, case-specific reasons should the denial remain in place.
The legal team also emphasized that both applicants have solid business, family, and financial connections in Nigeria, as well as investments in Grenada and the United Kingdom—factors they said establish strong reasons for the couple to return home after travel.
The petition comes shortly after Mr. Ajadi publicly criticized the U.S. visa process during an appearance in Ogun State, questioning the fairness of mass visa refusals and the lack of transparency, particularly given the non-refundable nature of application fees paid by Nigerian applicants.
As of now, the U.S. Embassy has not issued a response to the petition or to Mr. Ajadi’s public remarks. The case, however, has sparked interest among observers, with some suggesting it could open discussions on broader issues of transparency and reciprocity in visa processing between Nigeria and the United States.
