A Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Mr. Osazuwa Donald Moses Omosuza, has fled the country after alleging repeated attacks, blackmail, and threats to his life over his sexual orientation.
Omosuza, founder of e-GlobeIT Solutions Systems Ltd., said he left Nigeria in September 2024 for Canada, where he is seeking asylum.
In an interview with Event Diary Lifestyle, the businessman said his thriving IT career in Lagos and Abuja collapsed under a wave of violence and intimidation.
Founded in 2011, his company provided IT support to firms including Radisson Blu, and Food Concepts Plc, with partnerships from global tech brands such as HP and Dell.
But behind his success, Omosuza said he lived in fear under Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2014, which criminalizes homosexuality and prescribes up to 14 years imprisonment for offenders.
He recalled that his first contact with a hidden Lagos network was through Mr. Ikobayo, a businessman who owned Bestbet Integrated Services and shared office space with him in Ogba, Lagos. “One night after drinks, he introduced me to a private circle of men who lived in secrecy because of their orientation,” Omosuza alleged.
Through Ikobayo, he said he later met influential figures including Mr. Nureni Oladipupo, a landlord chairman in Alausa, and Mr. Jaiyeyemi, a legislative aide. “But those connections later became a source of threats to my life,” he added.
In May 2024, Omosuza alleged that he was abducted in Osogbo, Osun State, after the arrest of a local football coach, Mr. Adebisi, over similar allegations. He said he was beaten and dragged to a town hall before a community elder, Chief Akinola, intervened.
Later in Abuja, he alleged that he was sexually assaulted at a private party in Wuse on August 24, 2024. “They spiked my drink and took turns on me. I suffered internal injuries,” he said.
Although he fled the country weeks later, Omosuza claimed his family in Lagos continues to face intimidation. “Strange men came to my house asking for me. My teenage daughter was approached by strangers,” his wife said.
He accused Mr. Jaiyeyemi of being behind the threats. The allegation could not be independently verified as of press time. Attempts to reach Mr. Ikobayo, Mr. Oladipupo, and Mr. Jaiyeyemi for comments were unsuccessful.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have criticized Nigeria’s same-sex law, saying it fuels mob violence and blackmail.
“All I want is to live free without fear,” Omosuza said.