A four-member gang of Nigerians has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after being found guilty of forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates, which allowed individuals to live in the UK illegally.
The convicted individuals are Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54. Between March 2019 and May of last year, they submitted fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals, according to the Home Office.
According to a report by the Independent UK, the organized crime group provided fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other falsified documents to support the applications of these nationals, helping them to remain in the country.
The newspaper further reported that a Home Office investigation, conducted both in the UK and with its international operations based in Lagos, Nigeria, uncovered more than 2,000 counterfeit marriage documents.
Onifade and Shodipo were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, as stated by the Home Office.
Gbadamosi was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and committing fraud by false representation, while Kabir was convicted of possessing an identity document with improper intentions but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Onifade, from Gravesend, was sentenced to six years in prison, and Shodipo, from Manchester, received a five-year sentence at the same court on Tuesday. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Kabir, from London, was jailed for nine months.
Home Office chief immigration officer Paul Moran 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.”
