Four Nigerians jailed in UK for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates

The Home Office said the four were part of an organised crime group that made fraudulent applications for EU settlement permits for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023.

Four Nigerian nationals, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were detained in the UK.

They were convicted on Tuesday at Woolwich Crown Court in London for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to help people stay in the UK illegally.
The Home Office said the four were part of an organised crime group that made fraudulent applications under the EU settlement programme for Nigerian nationals between 2019 and 2023.

They carried out the operation between March 2019 and May last year, and also presented fake Nigerian marriage certificates and other fraudulent documents to allow the applicants to remain in the country. An investigation by the UK Home Office and the Lagos Home Office found that the group, themselves Nigerian, had created more than 2,000 fake marriage certificates.

The Home Office’s top immigration official, Paul Moran, said: “This group was extremely motivated to abuse our borders and they have been brought to justice.

“Like many of the gangs we encounter, their only priority was financial gain. I am pleased that my team was able to disrupt their activities and I hope these convictions 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 tackle gangs who exploit vulnerable people to make money.”

Onifade, from Gravesend, Kent, and Shodipo, from Manchester, were found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to supply fraudulent goods. They were sentenced to six and five years respectively.

Mr Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was found guilty of obtaining a residence permit by deception and fraud and sentenced to six years in prison.

Mr Kabir, from London, was found guilty of possessing an identity document for dishonest purposes but acquitted of obtaining a residence permit by deception. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.