Group decries UK’s conviction of four Nigerians over fake marriage certificates

The non-governmental organisation Centre for Social Justice Advocacy (CSJA) has denounced the conviction of four Nigerian nationals for using forged marriage licenses to obtain illegal residency in the United Kingdom.

According to reports, on Tuesday at Woolwich Crown Court, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were all found guilty and given sentences.

After being found guilty of participating in over 2,000 fictitious marriage certificates to support the applications of Nigerian residents hoping to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, they received a cumulative sentence of 13 years in jail.
According to a statement issued by CSJA's Executive Director, Gbenga Awosika, the proceedings that resulted in the Nigerians' sentencing were flawed and smacks of racism and injustice.
The statement said as follows: "We have been investigating over 2000 Nigerians residing in the UK for alleged marriage certificate forgeries from Nigeria over the past two years. We are saddened by the news that four of them have been found guilty and are facing prosecution.

"We were saddened by the trial's overt manifestation of racial injustice, racism, and prejudice.

"A number of flaws in the procedure that resulted in the rulings exist. The most significant of these is that Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, the main suspect, was forced to retain the same attorney he met at the police station for two years in spite of his request to be represented by a different attorney.

"The premises of conviction that they forged Nigerian marriage certificates is totally flawed.
First off, as they are not the issuing authority, it is not the British government's role to evaluate if a Nigerian document is forged.

It went on to say: "Secondly, no representative of the Nigerian government appeared before the Woolwich Crown Court to contest the authenticity of the documents."It is important to note that the prosecutor's expert witness at trial attested to the authenticity of the certificates.

"Another defendant, Mr. Adekunle Kabir, was exonerated of the charge of providing forged marriage certificates, and even the jury declared that two of the marriages were real."In fact, the top investigator acknowledged during cross-examination that he had "suspicion" that the certificates were not legitimate but that no one in Nigeria had ever informed him that they were fake.

''Based on the available data to us, what we made of the court’s decision is that it was predetermined to embarass the entire Nigerian community in the UK and tar the entire Nigerians with the brush of forgers.”
Awosika stated that numerous developments about the matter would surface over time and that the civil society organisation was aware that the criminal convictions were being challenged.

The Home Office and its foreign operations, based in Lagos, Nigeria, reportedly conducted a combined inquiry that turned up over 2,000 forged marriage certificates.

Both Onifade and Shodipo were convicted of conspiring to allow unauthorised entry into the United Kingdom and conspiring to supply materials used in fraud.

While Kabir was cleared of acquiring leave to remain by deceit but found guilty of possessing an identity document with unlawful intention, Gbadamosi was found guilty of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation.

At the same court on Tuesday, Manchester resident Shodipo received a five-year term and Onifade, a resident of Gravesend, was given a six-year sentence.

Gbadamosi, a resident of Bolton, received an 18-month prison sentence, while Kabir, a resident of London, received a nine-month sentence.

Declaring that gangs that prey on the weak for financial gain will face consequences, Home Office chief immigration officer Paul Moran celebrated the convictions as a noteworthy triumph.

"This group has rightfully been brought to justice because of their absolutely prolific desire to abuse our borders," stated Moran.
Like many of the gangs we come across, their only concern was making money. I'm thrilled that my group was able to snoop on their activity, and I'm hoping that these convictions will act as a warning to unscrupulous gangs who exploit people’s desperation to remain in the UK.
"We are going to keep working nonstop to fortify our boundaries and take action against the criminal organisations that prey on the weak in order to profit," he declared.