In the United Kingdom, four individuals of Nigerian descent have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison by the Woolrich Crown Court for orchestrating a scheme involving the forgery of more than 2,000 marriage documents. The convicted individuals, aged between 31 and 54, were found guilty of creating fake European Union Settlement Scheme applications for Nigerian nationals from 2019 to 2023. Their actions led to sentences ranging from nine months to six years based on the severity of their offenses.
The group fabricated counterfeit Nigerian customary marriage certificates and other false documentation to support applications of Nigerian citizens seeking residency in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. Following a joint investigation between the Home Office and its international operations in Lagos, Nigeria, over 2,000 fraudulent marriage documents were uncovered.
Individuals involved in the scam, originating from various UK locations, received different prison terms. Two of them were sentenced to six years and five years, while the others received 18 months and nine months of imprisonment, respectively.