Four members of a Nigerian gang have been jailed after forging more than 2,000 marriage certificates, allowing people to live in the UK illegally, according to a report by Sky News UK. The suspects—Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54—were sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The Home Office revealed that the four were part of an organized criminal group responsible for making fraudulent applications to the EU Settlement Scheme on behalf of Nigerian nationals. The group operated between March 2019 and May 2023, providing false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other forged documents to help applicants remain in the UK illegally.
An extensive investigation by the Home Office, in collaboration with authorities in Lagos, uncovered that the group had facilitated more than 2,000 false marriage documents. The court’s ruling marks a significant crackdown on illegal immigration schemes and highlights the ongoing efforts of the UK government to protect the integrity of its immigration system.
