3 Nigerians Men, Woman jailed in UK for forging over 2,000 marriage documents
A Woolwich Crown Court in London has convicted and sentenced four Nigerians for forging over 2,000 marriage certificates to illegally help people desperate to remain in the United Kingdom.
UK Home Office Chief Immigration Officer Paul Moran described the development as an exploitation of people’s desperation following the court’s ruling on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The verdict was entered against Abraham Onifade (41), Abayomi Shodipo (38), Nosimot Gbadamosi (31) and Adekunle Kabir (54).
As reported by Sky News, the Home Office alleged that the defendants were part of an organized criminal group that made fraudulent European Union Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerians.
The defendants implemented this through the provision of false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documentation aimed at helping applicants remain in the country.
Investigations showed that they carried out this enterprise between March 2019 and May 2019.
With the UK prosecution having closed its case, the court found Onifade and Shodipo guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK while conspiring to provide articles used in fraud. They were sentenced to six years and five years of imprisonment, respectively.
