Four Nigerian nationals have been convicted and sentenced by Woolwich Crown Court in London for creating and using over 2,000 fake marriage certificates to help individuals illegally remain in the United Kingdom.
The defendants, identified as Abraham Onifade, Abayomi Shodipo, Nosimot Gbadamosi, and Adekunle Kabir, were found guilty of various charges related to fraud and conspiracy.
The Home Office alleged that the defendants were part of an organised criminal group that made fraudulent European Union Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerians.
The defendants implemented this through the provision of false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation aimed at helping applicants remain in the country.
UK Home Office Chief Immigration Officer Paul Moran described the development as an exploitation of people’s desperation following the court’s ruling on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The investigation, led by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team, uncovered the large-scale forgery operation, which took place between March 2019 and May 2019.
The defendants were arrested and charged following a thorough investigation, which included raids on several properties and seizures of evidence.
The court found Onifade and Shodipo guilty of conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the United Kingdom while also conspiring to provide articles used in fraud. They received sentences of six and five years in prison, respectively.
Gbadamosi was jailed for six years for deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was jailed for six months after being found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intention to deceive.
The Chief Immigration Officer reacted to the conviction, saying that the group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse UK borders, adding that they 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,” Moran assured.
