British government arrests four British Nigerians for making more than 2,000 fake marriage certificates

A Woolwich Crown Court in London has sentenced four British Nigerians to prison for providing more than 2,000 false marriage documents to Nigerian citizens in order to stay in the UK.

It was gathered that Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were all convicted on Tuesday.

According to the British Home Office, the convicts were part of an organised criminal gang that produced fraudulent applications for European Union settlement schemes for Nigerian citizens.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the accused persons are said to have carried out the fraud between March 2019 and May 2023.

According to Vanguard, the convicts provided false marriage certificates and other fraudulent documentation.

Investigations by the British Home Office and Lagos State revealed that the group distributed more than 2,000 false marriage documents.

Paul Moran, the Home Office’s head of immigration, said of the development that the gang were very willing to breach Britain’s border laws.

READ MORE: British Council to increase IELTS fees for second time in 2024

He said: “Like many gangs we come across, their only priority was financial gain. I am delighted that my team were able to intercept their operation and I hope these convictions will serve as a warning to unscrupulous gangs who prey on people’s desperation to remain in the UK.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and tackle the gangs that exploit vulnerable people for profit.”

Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate unlawful entry into the UK and conspiracy to supply articles for fraud. They were jailed for six and five years respectively.

Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining a residence permit by deception and fraud by false representation. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Meanwhile, Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intent, but was acquitted of obtaining a residence permit by deception. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.