Four Nigerians bag jail term for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates in UK

Four Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to prison for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to assist individuals in illegally residing in the United Kingdom.

Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were all handed their sentences at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

According to the UK Home Office, the four individuals were part of an organized criminal group involved in submitting fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023. Their illegal activities included providing fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to help applicants remain in the country.

A joint investigation by the Home Office in the UK and Lagos revealed that the group facilitated over 2,000 false marriage documents during their operation, which took place between March 2019 and May last year.

Home Office chief immigration officer Paul Moran said: “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.”

Onifade, from Gravesend in Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, 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, from Bolton, was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation and sentenced to six years.

Kabir, from London, 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.