Four Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their involvement in forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates, aiding individuals in living illegally in the UK.
The convicted individuals are Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54. They were all sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.
According to the UK Home Office, the four were part of an organized criminal network that fraudulently processed EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023. The group’s illegal activities, which spanned from March 2019 to May 2022, involved the use of fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to facilitate the unlawful stay of individuals in the UK.
An investigation conducted by the Home Office in collaboration with Lagos authorities uncovered that the group had facilitated more than 2,000 fraudulent marriage documents.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, commented on the case, stating, “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.”
Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. They were sentenced to six years 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 received a six-year sentence.
Kabir, from London, was convicted of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.