Four individuals – Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, and Adekunle Kabir – have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for their roles in a Nigerian gang that forged over 2,000 marriage certificates.
This allowed individuals to live in the UK illegally. The sentencing took place at Woolwich Crown Court in London on August 27, 2024.
According to the Home Office, the four were part of an organized criminal group that made fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals between March 2019 and May 2023.
They also provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation to help applicants remain in the country.
A joint investigation by the UK Home Office and Lagos authorities uncovered a Nigerian gang’s scheme that facilitated over 2,000 false marriage documents.
Home Office Chief Immigration Officer Paul Moran stated, “This group’s sole priority was financial gain, and they have been brought to justice for their prolific abuse of our borders.”
Moran expressed satisfaction with his team’s interception of the operation and hoped that the convictions would serve as a warning to other gangs exploiting people’s desperation to remain in the UK.
He reiterated the Home Office’s commitment to securing borders and clamping down on gangs preying on vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
