Four Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their roles in a large-scale immigration scam involving the forgery of over 2,000 marriage certificates. 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 in London on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The group was found guilty of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme aimed at helping Nigerian nationals secure illegal residency in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme. The Home Office, in collaboration with Lagos authorities, uncovered that the group had been operating from 2019 to 2023, forging Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other documentation to facilitate the fraudulent applications.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, stated, “This group was prolific in their efforts to abuse our immigration system for financial gain. Their conviction should serve as a stark warning to other criminal networks seeking to exploit vulnerable people.”
Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were each sentenced to six and five years in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, received a six-year sentence for obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation. Kabir, from London, was sentenced to nine months for possession of an identity document with improper intention.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts by UK authorities to crack down on immigration fraud and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by criminal networks.
