Four Nigerian Gang Members Sentenced to 13 Years for Forging Marriage Certificates

The convicted individuals are Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54. Their activities, which spanned from March 2019 to May of the previous year, involved submitting false EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals, according to the Home Office.

Reports by the Independent UK indicate that the gang provided counterfeit Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other falsified documents to aid their clients’ illegal stay in the UK. An investigation by the Home Office, conducted both domestically and through its Lagos, Nigeria office, revealed the extensive use of these forged documents.

Onifade and Shodipo were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court. Gbadamosi was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and committing fraud by false representation. Kabir was convicted of possessing an identity document with improper intentions but was acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.

Onifade, from Gravesend, received a six-year prison sentence, while Shodipo, from Manchester, was sentenced to five years. Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months, and Kabir, from London, was given a nine-month prison term.

Paul Moran, chief immigration officer at the Home Office, commented: “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice. 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.”