Four Nigerians have been sentenced to a combined 13 years in prison for issuing over 2,000 fake marriage certificates allowing people to live in the UK illegally.
According to the Foreign news outlet, the convicted individuals, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54 were involved in a scheme to make fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme for Nigerian nationals between March 2019 and May 2023.
The group was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court, with sentences ranging from nine months to six years, depending on their level of involvement in the crimes.
The gang’s operation involved providing false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to assist Nigerian citizens in remaining in the UK.
A joint investigation by the Home Office and its international operations based in Lagos, Nigeria, uncovered the scheme, revealing more than 2,000 fraudulent marriage documents. Onifade and Shodipo were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide fraudulent articles. Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper
Onifade, from Gravesend, received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo, from Manchester, was sentenced to five years. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months, and Kabir, from London, was jailed for nine months.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, praised the convictions as a significant victory in the fight against those who exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
He emphasized that the gang’s primary motive was financial profit and expressed satisfaction that their operation was intercepted.
Moran warned that the Home Office would continue to work relentlessly to secure borders and dismantle such criminal networks, ensuring they face justice.
He said, “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice.
As with many gangs we encounter, their sole priority was financial gain. I am delighted that my team was able to intercept their operation, and I hope these convictions will serve as a warning to unscrupulous gangs who exploit people’s desperation to remain in the UK.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money”.
