LONDON — In a landmark case highlighting the ongoing battle against immigration fraud, four Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a scheme involving over 2,000 forged marriage certificates, Woolwich Crown Court ruled on Tuesday.
The convicted individuals, identified as Abraham Onifade, 41, Abayomi Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the United Kingdom and providing false documentation to support fraudulent European Union Settlement Scheme applications.
Prosecutors alleged that between March and May 2019, the group supplied false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to desperate individuals seeking to remain in the UK illegally.
Onifade and Shodipo received six and five-year sentences respectively for their roles in the conspiracy. Gbadamosi was handed a six-year term for deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was sentenced to six months for possessing a false identity document.
UK Home Office Chief Immigration Officer Paul Moran described the group as “absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse UK borders.”
“I hope these convictions will serve as a warning to unscrupulous gangs who exploit people’s desperation to remain in the UK,” Moran said in a statement following the verdict. “We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”
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