BREAKING: Four Nigerians jailed in UK for forging over 2,000 marriage documents

A Woolwich Crown Court in London has convicted and sentenced four Nigerian nationals for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to aid individuals desperate to remain in the United Kingdom. The court ruling, delivered on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, marks a significant blow against the organized criminal group responsible for the fraudulent scheme.

The defendants, identified as Abraham Onifade (41), Abayomi Shodipo (38), Nosimot Gbadamosi (31), and Adekunle Kabir (54), were found guilty of conspiring to exploit the European Union Settlement Scheme through fraudulent means. According to the UK Home Office, the group produced false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to assist individuals in staying in the country illegally.

The criminal activities occurred between March and May 2019, during which time the group executed their illicit operations. Upon concluding its case, the UK prosecution secured convictions against Onifade and Shodipo for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles for use in fraud. They received sentences of six and five years in prison, respectively.

Gbadamosi was sentenced to six years for her role in deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir received a six-month sentence for possessing an identity document with the intent to deceive.

Following the court’s decision, Paul Moran, the UK Home Office’s Chief Immigration Officer, condemned the group’s actions, stating that they had exploited the desperation of individuals seeking to remain in the UK for financial gain. He praised the efforts of his team in dismantling the operation and expressed hope that the convictions would serve as a deterrent to other criminal organizations.

“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 stated.

Moran reaffirmed the UK Home Office’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders and cracking down on criminal networks that prey on vulnerable individuals for profit. He emphasized that while the UK welcomes foreign nationals, including Nigerians, all must enter the country legally.

This case comes amid growing scrutiny of immigration patterns, particularly among Nigerian nationals. In May 2024, Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, highlighted a sharp increase in the number of dependents accompanying Nigerian students in the UK. Between 2019 and 2022, this number surged from approximately 1,500 to 52,000, reflecting a significant rise in demand for British education.