According to reports, four Nigerians have been jailed after forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to help people live in the United Kingdom illegally.
Adekunle Kabir, 54; Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; and Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31 were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London recently.
The Home Office revealed that the four were members of an organized criminal group that made fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023.
The bad enterprise was carried out by them between March 2019 and May 2023, and were also discovered to have offered false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation to help applicants stay in the country.
Home Office’s investigation in the UK and Lagos discovered that over 2,000 fake marriage documents were facilitated by the group, who themselves were Nigerian.
Paul Moran, Home Office Chief Immigration Officer, said: “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.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”
Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were found guilty of conspiracy to promote illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to offer articles used in fraud. They bagged six-year and five-year jail terms respectively.
Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was convicted of getting leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation and sentenced to six years.
In the same vein, Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention. He was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception but was jailed for nine months
