Four Nigerians have been jailed in the United Kingdom after they were found guilty of forging over 2,000 marriage certificates for residency processing.
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The Home Office said Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54; made fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals between March 2019 and May 2023.
The four were all convicted and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, with their sentences ranging from nine months to six years, reflecting the severity of their crimes.
Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.
Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Onifade, from Gravesend, was sentenced to six years imprisonment and Shodipo, from Manchester, was jailed for five years at the same court on Tuesday.
Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment while Kabir, from London, was jailed for nine months.
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The Evening Standard reports that the gang provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation to support the applications of Nigerian citizens seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.
