Four Nigerians have been sentenced for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to facilitate illegal residency in the UK.
Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, received their sentences at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.
The Home Office reported that the group was part of a criminal organization that submitted fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals from 2019 to 2023.
Their operation, which spanned from March 2019 to May of the previous year, involved creating false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fake documents to aid individuals in staying in the UK.
An investigation by the Home Office in the UK and Lagos uncovered the extensive forgery network.
Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, condemned the group’s actions and emphasized the ongoing effort to combat such criminal activities.
Onifade and Shodipo were each convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry and to provide items used in fraud, receiving six and five years in prison respectively.
Gbadamosi was sentenced to six years for obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation.
Kabir, found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intent but not for obtaining leave to remain by deception, received a nine-month sentence.
