Dozy Mmobuosi, a potential purchaser of Sheffield United and sponsor of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Super Cup competition, has come under fire for his business practices and falsified financial statements. Hindenburg Research, which recently conducted an investigation, made some alarming disclosures about the activities of Mmobuosi’s firm, the Tingo Group Inc. The New Jersey-based company operates in several industries, including mobile phones, food processing, and an online food market that focuses on Nigerian farmers. However, the validity of these assertions and the background of its Nigerian CEO have come under scrutiny.
One of the most glaring inconsistencies surrounding Mmobuosi is his alleged involvement in the founding of Nigeria’s first mobile payment app. When the app’s actual creator was contacted, it was unequivocally stated that Mmobuosi’s claims were “a complete lie.” Additionally, his qualifications have been questioned, and the institution where he supposedly earned a PhD in rural development denied that anyone with his name had been located in their verification system. Furthermore, his previous run-ins with the law have come to light, as the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged him with eight counts of issuing fraudulent checks in 2017.
Aside from Mmobuosi’s personal background, his company, the Tingo Group Inc., has been embroiled in controversy. In 2019, the firm announced the launch of “Tingo Airlines,” which was promoted on social media with posts urging users to “fly with Tingo Airlines today.” However, media outlets subsequently discovered that Tingo had simply pasted its logo onto airplane images, raising questions about whether a legitimate airline ever existed.
These unsettling facts cast considerable doubt on the Tingo Group Inc.’s reliability and moral character. Although the company originally appeared to be a supporter of Nigerian football by sponsoring the NPFL Super 6, its CEO’s and the company’s dubious business practices and falsified financial statements now call into question their involvement in the sporting community. As a potential purchaser of Sheffield United, Mmobuosi’s background and business practices will undoubtedly raise concerns among fans and stakeholders alike.
