Four British-Nigerians jailed in UK for ‘forging more than 2,000 marriage documents’

A Woolwich Crown Court in London has sentenced four British Nigerians to prison for allegedly forging more than 2,000 marriage documents to allow Nigerian citizens to remain in the UK..

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 UK Home Office, the convicts were part of an organised criminal gang that produced fraudulent applications for EU settlement schemes for Nigerian nationals.

They are said to have carried out the plan between March 2019 and May 2023.

According to Sky News, 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 was “absolutely prolific” in its activities to “abuse” Britain’s border laws.

“Like many of the gangs we encounter, their only priority was financial gain. I am delighted that my team were able to disrupt 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,” Moran said.

“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 use in fraud.

They were sentenced to six and five years in prison respectively.

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

Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with wrongful intent, but was acquitted of obtaining a residence permit through deception.

He was sentenced to nine months in prison.