A Woolwich Crown Court in London has sentenced four British-Nigerians to prison for forging over 2,000 marriage documents to help Nigerian nationals remain in the UK.
The convicted individuals, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, received their sentences on Tuesday.
According to the UK Home Office, the group was part of an organized criminal network that created fraudulent applications for the EU Settlement Scheme on behalf of Nigerian nationals. The scheme reportedly ran between March 2019 and May 2023.
Sky News reported that the group provided false customary marriage certificates and other fraudulent documents. An investigation by the Home Office, both in the UK and Lagos, revealed that the group had facilitated over 2,000 fake marriage documents.
Commenting on the case, Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, described the gang as “absolutely prolific” in its efforts to “abuse” UK immigration laws.
“As with many criminal organizations we encounter, their primary motive was financial gain. I’m pleased that my team was able to disrupt their operations, and I hope these convictions will serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous gangs who exploit people’s desperation to remain in the UK,” Moran said. “We will continue to work relentlessly to protect our borders and clamp down on those who prey on vulnerable individuals for profit.”
Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide fraudulent documents, receiving sentences of six and five years, respectively.
Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain through deception and fraud by false representation, resulting in a six-year sentence.
Kabir, found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intent, was sentenced to nine months in prison but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
