Four Nigerians have been sentenced for their involvement in a large-scale forgery operation that produced over 2,000 false marriage certificates to assist individuals in staying in the UK unlawfully.
The individuals sentenced are Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54. Their sentencing took place at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday, August 27.
The UK Home Office reported that the four were part of a criminal network responsible for fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals. Their criminal activities spanned from March 2019 to May 2023, during which they provided fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents. These documents were used to help applicants, mostly Nigerians, remain in the UK illegally.
An investigation conducted by the Home Office, both in the UK and Lagos, revealed that the group had created more than 2,000 false marriage certificates before they were apprehended.
Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to supply articles used in fraud. Onifade received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo was sentenced to five years.
Gbadamosi, who is from Bolton, was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and committing fraud by false representation. She was sentenced to six years in prison.
Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intent but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Paul Moran, chief immigration officer at the Home Office, commented on the case, saying, “This group was highly prolific in their efforts to exploit our borders and have rightly been brought to justice. Like many criminal gangs we encounter, their primary motivation was financial gain.
“I am pleased that my team was able to disrupt their operation. These convictions should serve as a warning to other unscrupulous gangs who exploit people’s desperation to stay in the UK. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and crack down on those who prey on vulnerable individuals to profit from illegal activities.”