Former Content Administrator at Bebuzee Group, Tobiloba Afolabi has reported alleged exploitative practices against her by her former employer, Joseph Onyero, CEO and founder of parent company Bebuzee and its subsidiaries.
In a Twitter thread, Afolabi alleged that her former employer, Onyero, refused to pay her salary for 9 months, which has now accumulated to 2,610 USD.
The tweets read thus “I want to publicly resign from my role as a Content Administrator at @joeonyero ‘s Company “Bebuzee”. I am doing this here because @joeonyero has refused to respond to mails, Skype messages and blocked me from reaching him on Skype after owing 9 months’ salary of 2,610 USD. On the 15th of June 2023, @joeonyero that I was working with asked us to take paid leave until our salary comes and up until today he has refused to pick calls, read messages/Skype and even BLOCKED me on Skype. It’s been 9 months now and @joeonyero has refused to pay my salary without any concrete reason.
“I am being cheated of my salary after working tirelessly for @joeonyero. @joeonyero also removed me from the work group because I requested for my salary. I am forced to believe that @joeonyero is not a man of his words. How can @joeonyero deprive people of their hard earned money? and he’s touring Europe without any feedback.
She went further to say “@joeonyero, kindly pay me what I’m owed, I have debts incurred to ensure your work was done. Kindly pay me my salary. Twitter people, please help me beg @joeonyero.”
While sharing her harrowing experience during a further interview with our reporter, Afolabi explained that the ordeal began in June 2023 when employees, frustrated by the delay in salary payments, collectively decided to take a leave until their pending salaries were settled. The employer, through the team leader Benita, allegedly assured the employees that the days they did not work would not be deducted from their salaries and could be considered as paid leave. However, seven months later, the promised salaries have yet to be paid.
“I was emotionally exhausted because then we thought it was just a one-week leave, but then it got to weeks and months,” Afolabi said. She revealed that she borrowed money to sustain her daily activities as the team was already underpaid before the prolonged salary delay.
Despite her attempts to communicate with Onyero and plead for her rightful payment, Afolabi claims her messages went unanswered. “I kept on messaging Mr. Joe, but he never responded to my messages. I begged and begged,” she said.
Afolabi shared screenshots of her attempts to seek assistance, including messages she sent in September where she pleaded for her salary, expressing her financial struggles and the harassment she was facing from creditors. She emphasized that she has not sought legal advice or assistance due to financial constraints.
In another tweet post, Afolabi alleges that Onyero has resorted to threats and intimidation tactics. She claims he has been asking around for her home address and making ominous statements like “we kids are playing with Fire.” Afolabi disclosed that she wants her salary paid, and she wants to go her separate ways peacefully.
Afolabi insists that she is not alone in facing these challenges, revealing there are at least six employees in Nigeria, including the so-called team leader Benita, who is allegedly affected by Onyero’s exploitative practices.
Efforts to reach Joseph Onyero proved abortive as he has locked his Twitter DM and refused to reply to messages sent to him on LinkedIn at the time of publishing this story.