Four Nigerians have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom (UK) for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to facilitate illegal residency in the country. The convicts identified as Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade (41), Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo (38), Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi (31), and Adekunle Kabir (54), were all sentenced on Tuesday at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
According to the UK Home Office, the group was part of an organized criminal network that facilitated the submission of fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023.
Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, Paul Moran, stated, “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice.
“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.”
Onifade and Sodipo were sentenced to six years and five years in prison, respectively. They were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.
Gbadamosi was sentenced to six years in prison for obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation while Kabir was sentenced to nine months in prison for possession of an identity document with improper intention but he was however cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception.