Gang Sentenced for Forging Over 2,000 Marriage Certificates for Illegal Nigerians to Stay

Social Media · August 28

In a major crackdown on immigration fraud, a group of four individuals has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison for their roles in an organized crime ring that forged more than 2,000 marriage certificates. This elaborate scheme enabled numerous Nigerian nationals to illegally secure residency in the United Kingdom between March 2019 and May 2023. The four gang members—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were found guilty of making fraudulent applications under the EU Settlement Scheme, which allowed these nationals to remain in the country.

The group’s operation involved providing fake Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other falsified documents that were used to support their fraudulent applications. The meticulous nature of their crime allowed them to exploit legal loopholes and manipulate immigration processes, making it one of the most extensive immigration frauds uncovered in recent years. According to the Home Office, their investigation, which involved both domestic intelligence and international operations based in Lagos, Nigeria, revealed the sheer scale of the fraudulent activity, with over 2,000 false marriage documents uncovered.

The convictions followed an in-depth trial at Woolwich Crown Court, where the evidence against the group was presented in detail. Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud. These charges reflect the organized and deliberate nature of their actions, which were aimed at subverting UK immigration laws for personal gain. Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention. However, Kabir was cleared of the charge of obtaining leave to remain by deception, a slight reprieve in a case that nonetheless underscored the widespread and systemic nature of the crime.

Onifade, who resided in Gravesend, received the longest sentence, being jailed for six years. Shodipo, who lived in Manchester, was sentenced to five years in prison. Gbadamosi, based in Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months, while Kabir, from London, was handed a nine-month jail term. The sentences reflect the severity of their offenses and the considerable impact their actions had on the integrity of the UK’s immigration system.

The case has been highlighted as a significant success for the Home Office, which has been under pressure to tackle illegal immigration and the exploitation of UK residency schemes. Paul Moran, the Home Office's chief immigration officer, commented on the case, emphasizing the audacity and scale of the group’s illegal activities. “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice,” Moran said. He noted that, as is often the case with such criminal enterprises, the group’s primary motive was financial gain, exploiting individuals’ desperation to secure residency in the UK for their own profit.

Moran expressed his satisfaction at the successful disruption of the gang’s operations, crediting the diligence and commitment of his team in bringing the perpetrators to justice. He also used the opportunity to issue a stern warning to other criminal groups engaged in similar activities, underscoring the Home Office’s ongoing commitment to tackling immigration fraud. “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.”

The gang’s activities represent a significant breach of the UK’s immigration controls, highlighting vulnerabilities that can be exploited by well-organized and determined criminal groups. The EU Settlement Scheme, which was introduced to help EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their families secure their residency status in the UK after Brexit, became the primary vehicle for the gang’s fraudulent activities. By providing fake marriage certificates, the group enabled individuals who would otherwise not qualify under the scheme to apply as spouses or civil partners, thus circumventing the standard eligibility criteria.

The scale of the operation was unprecedented, with the gang’s activities spanning several years and involving meticulous planning and execution. The use of fraudulent Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates—a document that is not typically subjected to stringent verification processes by UK immigration authorities—was a key aspect of their strategy. These certificates were used to falsely represent that a legal marriage had taken place, thus qualifying the applicant for residency under the settlement scheme.

The successful prosecution of Onifade, Shodipo, Gbadamosi, and Kabir serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by immigration authorities in the fight against organized immigration crime. Their convictions underscore the importance of vigilant and robust border controls, as well as the need for continuous scrutiny and reform of immigration systems to prevent abuse. This case also highlights the critical role of international cooperation in tackling transnational crime, as evidenced by the involvement of Home Office operations in Lagos, which were instrumental in uncovering the full extent of the gang’s fraudulent activities.

The sentences handed down to the gang members reflect the seriousness with which the UK judicial system treats immigration fraud, particularly when it involves organized crime groups that exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine public confidence in immigration systems. The Home Office has reiterated its commitment to rooting out such abuses and has pledged to continue working closely with international partners to detect and dismantle criminal networks involved in immigration fraud.

As the UK continues to refine its immigration policies in the post-Brexit era, cases like this serve as a critical learning point for authorities, emphasizing the need for enhanced verification processes and greater scrutiny of applications involving third-country nationals. The Home Office has already indicated that it will be reviewing its procedures and strengthening its approach to identifying and intercepting fraudulent documents to prevent similar abuses in the future.

For now, the successful convictions of these four individuals mark a significant victory in the ongoing battle against immigration fraud, but they also serve as a sobering reminder of the persistent and evolving nature of this type of crime. The Home Office’s message is clear: those who seek to exploit the UK’s immigration system for financial gain will be pursued relentlessly and brought to justice, no matter how sophisticated their operations may be.

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-29