Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
Four Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates, facilitating the illegal stay of individuals in the UK. The convicted individuals, identified as 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.
Truth Live News gathered from the UK Home Office, the four were part of an organized criminal network that fraudulently processed applications for the EU Settlement Scheme on behalf of Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023. Their illicit operations, which spanned from March 2019 to May 2022, involved the use of fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to enable individuals to live illegally in the UK.
An extensive investigation conducted by the Home Office, in collaboration with authorities in Lagos, revealed that the group had produced and processed over 2,000 fraudulent marriage documents.
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.”
Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. They received sentences of six years and five years in prison, respectively. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation and was sentenced to six years in prison. Kabir, from London, was convicted of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.
This case has sparked discussions among the public, with many attributing this trend to the economic crisis and disillusionment among Nigerians regarding a brighter future within their own country. The desperation for better opportunities abroad has driven some to engage in illegal activities, reflecting the broader socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria.