A UK court has sentenced four Nigerians to prison for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to aid Nigerians in living illegally in the United Kingdom.
The convicts—41-year-old Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 38-year-old Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 31-year-old Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, and 54-year-old Adekunle Kabir—were sentenced on Tuesday at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
According to the UK Home Office, the four were part of an organized criminal network that submitted fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme, specifically targeting Nigerian nationals.
Between March 2019 and May of last year, the group provided fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other counterfeit documents to help individuals stay illegally in the UK.
An extensive investigation by the Home Office, both in the UK and Lagos, revealed the extent of the group’s activities, uncovering more than 2,000 fraudulent marriage documents linked to them. All four individuals involved are of Nigerian nationality.
Sky News reported that Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, commented on the case, stating, “This group was prolific in their attempts to abuse our borders and has rightly been brought to justice. Like many criminal gangs, their primary motivation was financial gain.”
Moran expressed satisfaction with the team’s efforts in dismantling the group’s operations and emphasized the importance of these convictions as a warning to others who exploit vulnerable people for profit. He added, “We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and crack down on such gangs.”
Onifade, who resides in Gravesend, Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles for use in fraud. They received sentences of six and five years in prison, respectively.
Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation. She was sentenced to six years in prison.
Kabir, from London, was convicted of possessing an identity document with improper intention. Although he was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception, he was still sentenced to nine months in prison.
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