Four jailed after forging more than 2,000 marriage documents in UK

Four people have been sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates to facilitate illegal residence in the UK.

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.

According to the Home Office, the group was part of an organised criminal network that submitted fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme for Nigerian nationals. Their activities spanned from March 2019 to May 2023 and included providing false Nigerian marriage certificates and other fraudulent documents to help individuals remain in the country.

Investigations by the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with authorities in Lagos, revealed that the group had facilitated the production of over 2,000 false marriage documents.

Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, said: “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and has rightly been brought to justice. As with many gangs we encounter, their only 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 prey on people’s desperation to remain in the UK. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and tackle the gangs who exploit vulnerable people to make money.”

Onifade, from Gravesend, Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate unlawful entry into the UK and conspiracy to supply articles to be used in the commission of fraud. They were sentenced to six years and five years respectively.

Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was found guilty of obtaining a residence permit by deception and fraud by false representation, resulting in a six-year prison sentence.

Kabir, originally from London, was convicted of possessing an identity document with wrongful intent, but was acquitted of obtaining a residence permit by deception. He was given a nine-month prison sentence.

Source: myjoyonline