A Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday sentenced four (4) British Nigerians to prison for allegedly forging more than 2,000 marriage documents for Nigerian nationals to remain in United Kingdom (UK).
Gatekeepers News reports that the convicts were Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54.
According to UK home office; they were part of an organised criminal gang that produced fraudulent EU settlement scheme applications for Nigerian nationals.
They reportedly carried out the scheme between March 2019 and May 2023.
Sky News reported that the convicts provided false customary marriage certificates and other fraudulent documentation.
An investigation conducted by the home
After investigating, Home Office in UK and Lagos found out that more than 2,000 false marriage documents were facilitated by the group.
Commenting on the development, Home Office chief immigration officer, Paul Moran said the gang was prolific in its activities to abuse UK border laws.
Moran said, “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 and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud and were jailed for six years and five years respectively.
Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception, and fraud by false representation, and sentenced to six years.
Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception and was jailed for nine months.
