4 Nigerians sentenced to jail for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates
Four Nigerians have been sentenced to jail for their involvement in creating over 2,000 forged marriage certificates aimed at facilitating illegal residency in the United Kingdom.
On Tuesday, August 27, the Woolwich Crown Court in London handed down sentences to Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54.
The UK Home Office revealed that the defendants were part of a criminal organisation engaged in fraudulent activities related to the EU Settlement Scheme for Nigerian citizens.
Between March 2019 and May 2023, they orchestrated numerous illegal operations, including the distribution of counterfeit Nigerian customary marriage certificates and other forged documents, enabling individuals to illegally remain in the UK.
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In an investigation conducted by the Home Office in the UK and Lagos State, over 2,000 fake marriage documents were linked to the four convicted Nigerians.
The chief immigration officer at the Home Office, Paul Moran, expressed excitement at being able to intercept their operation and bring them to justice, adding that it would serve as a warning to others involved in similar activities.
“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.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money,” he said.
Having been found guilty of conspiring to aid illegal entry into the UK and provide documents used in fraud, Onifade, a resident of Gravesend, Kent, and Shodipo, living at Manchester, were sentenced to six and five years, respectively.
Proofreading by Fa’izatu Aliyu Doma, Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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