Nigerian entrepreneur Dozy Mmobuosi sued for unpaid debts in U.S., UK
Dozy Mmobuosi, the Nigerian entrepreneur who founded Tingo Inc., is embroiled in lawsuits for unpaid debts in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
According to a recent report by Bloomberg, the Nigerian entrepreneur has been sued by one of his top executives at Nigeria-based subsidiary Tingo Mobile, Sukhdeep Bhogal, for reportedly withholding payment for at least six months of work in a $300,000 Connecticut lawsuit.
Bhogal, an Indian national, had assisted in raising $400 million for a Tingo unit, according to court documents. The benefits allegedly unpaid to Bhogal amount to “hundreds of thousands of dollars of wage theft,” according to his lawyer, Jennie Woltz.
In light of the recent allegation that has cast doubt on the Nigerian entrepreneur’s character, Woltz claimed that Bhogal worked for Dozy Mmobuosi for over six months without any compensation.
Despite promises of bonuses and equity at the start of his employment, Bhogal allegedly received little to no wages during this time.
The case comes amid an ongoing legal dispute, as a UK court previously ordered Mmobuosi’s firm, Tingo International Holdings Inc., to pay £87,000 ($105,000) to settle unpaid rent for a property in Radlett that he had used as his private residence.
Despite declaring himself to be a billionaire, the entrepreneur’s business ventures and companies fall far short of his self-proclaimed billion-dollar valuation. However, he recently made an offer to buy Sheffield United, an English football club that is presently in the second automatic promotion spot for a return to the Premier League.
To gain approval from the authorities, Dozy Mmobuosi must pass the Owners and Directors’ Test conducted by the English Football League (EFL). This examination will delve into the origins of his wealth and assess whether he possesses the necessary qualities to be the owner of a team.
As part of the move to fast-track the sale of Sheffield United, which was initiated by its owner, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the EFL has been awaiting a response from Mmobuosi to those queries for some time and until the League is satisfied that the requirements of its regulations have been met, it will not process a change of control at the club.