London, UK — Four members of a Nigerian gang have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for their roles in creating more than 2,000 fake marriage certificates, which enabled Nigerian citizens to live illegally in the United Kingdom. The group’s fraudulent activities centered around making false EU Settlement Scheme applications between March 2019 and May 2022, according to the UK Home Office.
The convicted individuals—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday. Their sentences ranged from nine months to six years, reflecting the severity of their crimes.
The gang was found to have provided fraudulent Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fake documentation to support the applications of Nigerian nationals seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. Their illegal operation was uncovered during a joint investigation by the Home Office and its international operations team based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Onifade and Shodipo were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. Onifade, from Gravesend, received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo, from Manchester, was jailed for five years.
Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation. She was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention and was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was, however, cleared of charges related to obtaining leave to remain by deception.
The Home Office praised the investigation and resulting convictions as a significant victory against criminal networks exploiting the UK’s immigration system. Paul Moran, the Home Office’s Chief Immigration Officer, emphasized that the gang’s primary motivation was financial gain, and he expressed satisfaction that their illegal operation was successfully disrupted.
“This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice,” Moran stated. “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.”
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in safeguarding immigration systems and the critical need for continued vigilance against criminal activities that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.
