Four Nigerian nationals have been jailed in the United Kingdom for forging over two thousand, 2,000, marriage certificates.
The four member gang were reported to be involved in Forging marriage certificates that allowed people live and work in the United Kingdom illegally. The gang is made up of three male and one female.
The gang were bursted following an investigation conducted by the Home Office domiciled in the UK and Lagos Nigeria, during which more than 2000 marriage certificates and other fraudulent documents were discovered to have been facilitated by the group, helping applicants live in the UK illegally.
The four are identified as Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54.
While the Home Office revealed how they were part of an organized crime syndicate specializing in fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals.
They carried out the crime between the period of March 2019 down to May 2023, before they were apprehended.
Basically involved in providing forged or faked documents; marriage certificates, fraudulent documents, etc, that helped applicants to illegally remain in the country.
Thereby helping them to evade arrest, deportation, and other actions applicable to their class of stay in the country.
Following the conclusion of their trial on August 27, 2024 during a hearing at the Woolwich Crown Court in London, they were all jailed for a total of 13 years.
Reacting to the news, UK based lawyer, author and Pastor, Dele Olawanle wrote, “When you get to a foreign land, it takes time to settle. If you want to do it in a hurry, you can end up in jail.
I reported to the immigration authority for 8 years and was detained for 5 weeks. I was almost deported but I stayed the course. Some Nigerians are soiling our country’s image“.
“Wow, 2,000 marriage documents? That’s some serious commitment…to crime! I guess they took ‘fake it till you make it’ a bit too literally,” @IsthisJohnson.
“Unfortunately, they unlawfully assisted many in remaining in the country. Once they complete their prison sentences, they, too, will be deported from the UK. Crime really doesn’t pay,” Ben Samuel @flourishøø7.
