Four British-Nigerians jailed in UK for ‘forging over 2,000 marriage documents’

A Woolwich Crown Court in London has sentenced four British-Nigerians to prison for allegedly forging more than 2,000 marriage documents for Nigerian nationals to remain in the UK.

Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were all sentenced on Tuesday.

The UK home office said the convicts were part of an organised criminal gang that produced fraudulent EU settlement scheme applications for Nigerian nationals.

They were said to have carried out the scheme between March 2019 and May 2023.

According to Sky News, the convicts provided false customary marriage certificates and other fraudulent documentation.

An investigation conducted by the home office in the UK and Lagos showed that more than 2,000 false marriage documents were facilitated by the group.

Speaking on the development, Paul Moran, home office chief immigration officer, said the gang was “absolutely prolific” in its activities to “abuse” UK border laws.

“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,” Moran said.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money.”

Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.

They were jailed for six years and five years respectively.

Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception, and fraud by false representation, and sentenced to six years.

Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception.

He was jailed for nine months.