This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
A Nigerian journalist, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, who has been making headlines in Kenya after claiming she cancelled her trip to Nairobi due to safety concerns, has a history of controversy in Canada.
Published on August 16, 2012, a report by The Globe and Mail revealed that Ms Omololu-Olunloyo was deported to Nigeria after a lengthy battle with immigration officials over her status in Canada.
Ms Omololu-Olunloyo, who claimed to be a victims-rights advocate, was a polarizing figure in many of the Toronto communities in which she worked. She worked with police to solve crimes in Canada through 'snitching', which discouraged in most crime-prone neighbourhoods.
Some bereaved family members praised her efforts to bring attention to a loved one's death, while others viewed her as a self-promoter, thrusting herself into the spotlight to speak on their behalf.
Her troubles started when the Toronto Star reported that Ms Omololu-Olunloyo was wanted in the state of Georgia for jumping bail and violating probation. A Canadian police constable then reported her legal battles to officials in Canada and Georgia.
Ms Omololu-Olunloyo was promptly deported to Nigeria, where she claimed it was a shame on the immigration system.
Fast forward to 2019, Ms Omololu-Olunloyo claimed she was cancelling her trip to Nairobi due to a security threat from the Al-Shabab bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia.
