A Nigerian man and his bogus bride extradited to the United Kingdom from Holland following a sham marriage have been jailed after a UK Border Agency investigation.
Dutch ‘bride’ Zunica Sabina, 28, married Olukayode Olusanya, 34, at St John’s Church in Moston, Manchester, on September 23, 2008 before immediately flying back to Amsterdam from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.
The africanoutlookonline.com reported that on Wednesday at the Manchester Crown Court, Sabina and Olusanya were sentenced along with Olusanya’s 30-year-old partner, Esther Ogunrinde, who acted as a witness in the sham marriage ceremony.
All three had previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.
Olusanya and Ogunrinde lived together with their three children in Dean Lane, Manchester.
Following the marriage, Ogunrinde used the identity card reported lost by Sabina in Holland to gain employment in the UK.
On June 2, 2011, both Ogunrinde and Olusanya were arrested at their home address and during a search a purse contacting bank cards, a national insurance card and UK driving licence, all in the name of Sabina, were located.
Also found in the house was the original Dutch ID card of Sabina that had previously been reported to the Dutch police as lost.
On August 11, 2011, the Royal Marechaussee (Dutch) Police in Holland entered the home address of Sabina and arrested her.
She appeared before a Dutch Court and was ordered to be extradited to the UK following charges of assisting unlawful immigration.
On Wednesday at Manchester Crown Court the sentences were as follows:
Zunica Sabina received 16 months imprisonment.
Olukayode Olusanyu received 32 months imprisonment.
Esther Ogunrinde received 12 months suspended sentence with 180 hours of unpaid work.
Tim Berry from North West criminal and financial investigation (immigration) team in the North West, said: “Working in partnership with our colleagues in the Dutch Police force we have managed to pursue and bring to justice the offenders involved in this serious organised criminality.
“The UK Border Agency is taking strong action to crack down on sham marriages nationwide.
“Our message could not be clearer, we will not tolerate immigration abuse and we will take decisive action against those involved – wherever they may hide.”
The UK Border Agency North West criminal and financial investigation (immigration) team is a specialist unit of seconded police officers working alongside warranted UK Border Agency officers to investigate organised immigration crime.
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