Four Nigerian gang members have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for producing over 2,000 fake marriage certificates, allowing Nigerian citizens to live in the UK illegally.
The individuals, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade (41), Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo (38), Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi (31), and Adekunle Kabir (54), made fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications between March 2019 and May 2023, according to the Home Office.
The convictions were reported by the Evening Standard on Tuesday. The group provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to support applications for Nigerian nationals seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
The Home Office, in collaboration with its international operations in Lagos, Nigeria, uncovered more than 2,000 fake marriage certificates.
Onifade and Shodipo were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK, while Gbadamosi was convicted of fraud by false representation. Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intentions.
At Woolwich Crown Court, Onifade was sentenced to six years, Shodipo received five years, Gbadamosi was sentenced to 18 months, and Kabir was jailed for nine months.
Paul Moran, chief immigration officer of the Home Office, hailed the convictions as a significant victory and a warning to gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
Moran stated, “We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”
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