Four members of a Nigerian gang have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for their involvement in creating over 2,000 fake marriage certificates, which allowed Nigerian citizens to illegally reside in the UK.
The individuals—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were found guilty of making fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme on behalf of Nigerian nationals between March 2019 and May last year, according to the Home Office.
As reported by the Evening Standard on Tuesday, the four were convicted and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court. Their sentences ranged from nine months to six years, reflecting the seriousness of their crimes.
The gang was discovered to have provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other forged documents to support the applications of Nigerian citizens attempting to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. The Home Office, in collaboration with its international operations based in Lagos, Nigeria, uncovered more than 2,000 fraudulent marriage certificates during the investigation.
Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intent but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Onifade, from Gravesend, received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo, from Manchester, was sentenced to five years. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Kabir, from London, received a nine-month sentence.
Paul Moran, the Home Office’s chief immigration officer, praised the convictions as a significant achievement, emphasizing that gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain would be held accountable. Moran stated, “This group was exceptionally prolific in their efforts to undermine our borders, and they have rightfully been brought to justice.”
He further noted that the gang’s primary motive was financial gain, as is the case with many criminal organizations. Moran expressed his satisfaction with the successful interception of the gang’s operations by his team and hoped that these convictions would serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous groups that prey on people’s desperation to remain in the UK. He concluded by reaffirming the Home Office’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders and cracking down on gangs that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.
Source: punchng.com
