Nigerians Jailed in UK for Forging Marriage Certificates.
Recently, four Nigerian nationals were convicted and sentenced in the UK for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates. This fraudulent activity was aimed at helping individuals, presumably Nigerian nationals, to live illegally in the United Kingdom. Here are the key details:
- Convicts: The individuals involved were Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade (41), Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo (38), Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi (31), and Adekunle Kabir (54).
- Location: The sentencing took place at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
- Timeframe: The fraudulent activities spanned from March 2019 to May 2023.
- Nature of Fraud: They provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation to support applications under the EU Settlement Scheme, enabling illegal residency.
- Sentences:
- Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade and Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo were found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. Onifade received six years, and Shodipo was jailed for five years.
- Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, also receiving a six-year sentence.
- Adekunle Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intention but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception. His specific sentence length wasn’t detailed in the provided information.
- Investigation: The operation was uncovered through a joint investigation by the UK’s Home Office and its operations in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Public Statement: Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, expressed satisfaction with the convictions, hoping it would deter similar activities, emphasizing the Home Office’s commitment to securing UK borders against such exploitations.
This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat immigration fraud, particularly through the misuse of marriage certificates for residency purposes in the UK. The convictions serve as a warning to others contemplating similar fraudulent activities.
