Four Nigerians Jailed in the UK for Forging Over 2,000 Marriage Certificates

Four Nigerians have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a scheme to forge more than 2,000 marriage certificates, enabling people 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—were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

The UK Home Office revealed that the four were part of an organized criminal group that facilitated fraudulent applications for the EU Settlement Scheme, specifically targeting Nigerian nationals. The fraudulent activity took place between March 2019 and May 2023. The group provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fake documentation to help applicants stay in the UK.

An investigation by the Home Office in collaboration with authorities in Lagos uncovered the full extent of the scheme. The group had produced over 2,000 false marriage documents during their illegal operations.

Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, condemned the group’s actions, stating, “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.”

Moran emphasized the Home Office’s commitment to protecting the UK’s borders, adding, “We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”

The sentences handed down were as follows:

• Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.
• Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, from Manchester, received a five-year prison sentence on the same charges as Onifade.
• Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation. She was sentenced to six years in prison.
• Adekunle Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention. However, he was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by immigration authorities in tackling fraud and ensuring the integrity of the UK’s immigration system. The Home Office has vowed to continue its efforts to dismantle criminal networks that seek to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain.