Abdulrauf Ademola, the Nigerian businessman at the heart of allegations made by six Nigerian mine workers in the Central African Republic (CAR), has issued a statement to clarify his own side of the issue.
The workers had, in a now viral video, accused Ademola of passport seizures, unpaid salaries and abandonment.
However, in a statement made available to journalists at the weekend, Ademola described the claims as exaggerated and misleading. He also claimed that the workers’ passports were not confiscated but were being processed for work permit extensions in Bangui.
He said: “This is the second time we are extending their permits because I want to ensure all our workers have legal status. Nobody seized their passports at all.”
Addressing claims that the workers were abandoned at the mining site, he explained that operations were scaled down due to the rainy season.
According to him, “There are still 10 Nigerian workers and about 40 Central African employees with security on-site. A Chinese mechanic recently left, but workers are being rotated off duty gradually. Is this abandonment? Maybe I missed a call, but we did not desert anyone“.
On the allegation that the man were owed 10 months’ salary, Ademola stated that they had only been in CAR for five months, including time spent in the capital, Bangui.
“They were paid allowances while in Bangui and received above-average wages once on-site, including food provisions. The dispute arose because I delayed two months’ pay due to bad weather and some workers’ misconduct,” he said. “We were discussing adjustments, which likely triggered their social media outcry.”
The businessman, who said his transactions were backed by documentation, said he had contacted the Nigerian Embassy in CAR to investigate the matter.
“I have legal evidence for all my claims. This is an internal company matter, not a diplomatic crisis,” he explained. “I appeal to journalists not to exploit this situation to create tension between Nigeria and CAR. We are peaceful Nigerians resolving a workplace disagreement.”
Although the NiDCOM and the Chinese embassy in Abuja has intervened, the Nigerian Embassy in CAR has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The statement reads in full:
PRESS RELEASE
In a recent viral video, six Nigerians in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) made very gravious allegations against me and included some Chinese companies. the allegations included claims of passport seizure, non-payment of salaries, and abandonment.
However, I, Mr. Abdulrauf Ademola(Nigerian), mentioned in the video want to clarify the whole issue.
Acctully it’s quite simple. I personally signed an agreement and partnered with Dodo Mining Company in C.A.R. And for previous relationships, the Chinese mentioned in the video rented out their machines to me and provided technical support.
The 6 Nigerian who claim their passports seizure. The truth is we are extending their working permit in Bangui for them, and it’s the second time. Because I want to make sure all our people l there have legal identity. Nobody seized their passports at all. Secondly, those 6 said we abandon them, actually there are 10 Nigerian workers there and around 40 of Central African workers with security. One Chinese mechanic just left site last week. Because of the raining season, operation is actually difficult on site, so we decide to decrease the number of workers there. Our workers go off work step by step. So can we define this movement as abandon? Maybe I just missed one of their calls. Thirdly, they claim 10 month’s unpaid salary. The truth is they just arrive the working site like 5 month’s totally, and for several month’s they were in the capital city and we still pay them something, when they went to the site, each of them got paid more than their average salary in Nigeria, plus some welfare for food. The conflicts happened because I delayed like 2 month salary, because of the bad weather and some of these workers have behaved badly there. So we are discussing reducing some of the salary. I know this is the core reason for their use of social media to attract people’s attention. All above I said have legal evidence, I have informed Nigerian embassy in CAR, to investigate it.
I enjoin media organizations please don’t use this chance to exaggerate one small issue inside our company to create crisis between countries. We are peaceful Nigerians. God bless all of you.
Abdulrauf Ademola
July 26, 2025
