Four individuals have been sentenced to prison for forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates to facilitate illegal residency in the UK, Sky News reports.
The group, all Nigerian nationals, were found guilty of making fraudulent applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, allowing others to remain in the UK unlawfully.
The group consisted of Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54. They were sentenced on Tuesday at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
A Web of Deceit: How the Fraud Was Carried Out
According to the Home Office, the four were part of an organised criminal network that operated between March 2019 and May 2023. Their operation involved the use of fraudulent Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other falsified documents to support the applications. This sophisticated scheme aimed to bypass UK immigration laws and provide Nigerian nationals with a pathway to remain in the country illegally.
The scam was uncovered through a joint investigation by the Home Office in the UK and authorities in Lagos, Nigeria. The investigation revealed that more than 2,000 fake marriage documents had been facilitated by the group, highlighting the extensive reach and impact of their criminal activities.
Sentencing and Justice Served
The court proceedings culminated in various sentences for the four conspirators:
- Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.
- Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, from Manchester, received a five-year sentence for similar charges, including conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry and providing fraudulent documentation.
- Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to six years for obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation.
- Adekunle Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention and sentenced to nine months in prison. He was cleared of the charge of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Home Office’s Response to the Convictions
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, praised the efforts of the investigative team in dismantling the criminal network.
“This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice,” he said. “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.”
