A London Woolwich Crown Court has convicted and sentenced four Nigerians for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to illegally assist individuals seeking to stay in the United Kingdom.
UK Home Office Chief Immigration Officer Paul Moran condemned the actions as an exploitation of people’s desperation following the court’s ruling on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The convicted individuals are Abraham Onifade (41), Abayomi Shodipo (38), Nosimot Gbadamosi (31), and Adekunle Kabir (54).
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According to Sky News, the Home Office alleged that the defendants were part of an organized criminal network that facilitated fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerians.
They achieved this by providing fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other false documents to help applicants remain in the UK.
The fraudulent activities took place between March 2019 and May 2019.
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The court found Onifade and Shodipo guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiring to provide articles used in fraud.
Onifade was sentenced to six years in prison, and Shodipo received a five-year sentence.
Gbadamosi was sentenced to six years for deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was given a six-month sentence for possessing an identity document with intent to deceive.
Paul Moran remarked on the conviction, stating that the group’s prolific efforts to abuse UK borders had been rightly addressed by the justice system.
“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,” he assured.
The UK Home Office recognizes the efforts of foreign nationals, including Nigerians, to reside in the UK but insists on legal entry procedures.
As of May 2024, Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, reported a significant increase in dependents accompanying Nigerian students studying in the UK.
The number of dependents surged from around 1,500 to 52,000 between 2019 and 2022, highlighting a growing demand for British education.
