Group Criticizes UK For Convicting Four Nigerians On Fake Marriage Certificate Charges

Group Criticizes UK For Convicting Four Nigerians On Fake Marriage Certificate Charges

The Centre for Social Justice Advocacy, (CSJA), a non-novernmental Organisation, has decried the conviction of four Nigerian citizens for fake marriage certificates to enable them live in the UK illegally.

It was reported that Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31, and Adekunle Kabir, 54, were all convicted and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday.

They were sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after being convicted of involvement in over 2,000 fake marriage certificates to support the applications of Nigerian citizens seeking to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.

CSJA in a statement released by its Executive Director, Gbenga Awosika, said the process that led to the sentences of the Nigerians were flawed and smacks of racism and injustice.

The statement read: “In the last two years, we followed the investigation of over 2000 Nigerians living in the UK for allegation of forging marriage certificates from Nigeria and received the news of the convictions of four of them who have faced prosecution with sadness.

“Our sadness arose from the fact that the trial had all the trappings of racism, injustice and racial prejudice.

“There are several gaps in the process that led to the judgments, chiefs among them was the fact that the prime suspect, Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade was denied his right to a lawyer of his choice, and made to use the same lawyer he met at the police station for two years despite his application to change his counsel.

“The grounds of conviction that they forged Nigerian marriage certificates is totally flawed.

“Firstly it’s not in the place of British government to determine whether a Nigerian document is forged since they are not the issuing authority.

It further stated: “Secondly, no Nigerian government official appeared before the Woolwich Crown Court to deny the authencity of the documents.

“It is pertinent to add that an expert witness for the prosecutor told the court that  the certificates are genuine.

“Even the jury declared that two of the marriages were real while another defendant, Mr. Adekunle Kabir, was cleared of the charge of providing forged marriage certificates.

“In fact the chief investigator admitted under cross-examination that no one in Nigeria ever told him the certificates were forged but he just had ‘suspicion’ that they are not authentic.

“From the facts available 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 said the civil society organisation was aware that the criminal convictions were being appealed, adding that many things pertaining to the issue would be unfolded as time goes on.

It was gathered that the Home Office, in a joint investigation with its international operations based in Lagos, Nigeria uncovered more than 2,000 false marriage documents.

Onifade and Shodipo were both found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.

Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation, while Kabir was found guilty of possession of an identity document with improper intention but was cleared of obtaining leave to remain by deception.

Onifade from Gravesend, was sentenced to six years imprisonment while Shodipo, from Manchester, was jailed for five years at the same court on Tuesday.

Gbadamosi, from Bolton, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment while Kabir, from London, was jailed for nine months.

Home Office chief immigration officer Paul Moran, hailed the convictions as a significant victory, warning that gangs that exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain will be brought to justice.

Moran said: “This group was absolutely prolific in their desire to abuse our borders and have rightly been brought to justice.

“As with many gangs we encounter, their sole priority was financial gain. I am delighted that my team was able to intercept their operation, and I hope these convictions will 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 clamp down on the gangs who prey on vulnerable people to make money,” he said.