In a recent ruling by a court in the United Kingdom, four Nigerians have been sentenced for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates, which were used to facilitate illegal residency in the country.
Woolwich Crown Court in London delivered the sentences on Tuesday, as reported by Sky News.
The convicted individuals—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were part of a criminal gang that executed fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals from March 2019 to May 2023.
The gang also provided counterfeit Nigerian customary marriage certificates and other fraudulent documents to assist applicants in remaining in the UK.
An investigation by the UK Home Office revealed that this group was responsible for facilitating more than 2,000 fake marriage documents. Onifade, residing in Gravesend, Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. Onifade received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo was sentenced to five years.
Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Kabir, based in London, was sentenced to nine months in prison after being convicted of possession of an identity document with improper intention, though he was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, commented: “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.”
