Four Nigerians have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their involvement in forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates to help people live in the UK illegally.
The group, described as part of an organized criminal network, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.
The convicts—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were found guilty of facilitating fraudulent applications to the EU Settlement Scheme for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023.
The Home Office revealed that the group had been involved in creating and providing false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents.
These documents were used to help applicants illegally remain in the UK.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, commented on the case, saying, “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.”
Moran added, “We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”
Sentencing Details:
Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, from Gravesend, Kent, and Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, from Manchester, were both found guilty 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.
Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation. She was sentenced to six years in prison.
Adekunle Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
He received a nine-month prison sentence.
The criminal activities of the group came to light following a joint investigation by the Home Office in the UK and Lagos.
The probe uncovered the extent of the fraud, with more than 2,000 fake marriage certificates linked to the group.
