4 Nigerians sentenced to prison in the UK for issuing more than 2,000 fraudulent marriage certificates
Four Nigerian gang members have been sentenced to a combined total of 13 years in prison for their role in producing over 2,000 counterfeit marriage certificates, which allowed Nigerian nationals to remain in the UK unlawfully.
Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were convicted for their involvement in fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian citizens between March 2019 and May of the previous year, according to the Home Office.
As reported by the Evening Standard on Tuesday, the four individuals were tried and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, with prison terms ranging from nine months to six years, reflecting the gravity of their offenses.
The gang supplied fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other forged documents to support the applications of Nigerian nationals seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
The Home Office, in collaboration with its international operations in Lagos, Nigeria, uncovered over 2,000 fake marriage certificates during the investigation.
Onifade and Shodipo were convicted of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiring to provide fraudulent materials. Gbadamosi was found guilty of deception and fraudulently obtaining leave to remain, while Kabir was convicted of possessing an identity document with fraudulent intent but was acquitted of deception charges related to obtaining leave to remain.
Onifade, residing in Gravesend, received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo, from Manchester, was sentenced to five years. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Kabir, from London, was given a nine-month sentence.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, lauded the convictions as a major success, emphasizing that gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain will face justice.
Moran stated, “This group was extremely active in their attempts to abuse our immigration system and have been rightfully held accountable. As with many gangs, their primary goal was financial profit. I am pleased that my team was able to disrupt their operation, and I hope these sentences serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous groups who exploit people’s desperation to stay in the UK. We remain committed to securing our borders and tackling those who prey on vulnerable individuals for financial gain.”
