Croydon couple sentenced over £43,000 immigration and identity swindle
Cherry Wilson
-
A MARRIED couple from Addiscombe have been caught carrying out an identity and immigration scam to swindle £43,000 in benefits.
Juliet Ubiribo and Ovo Mayomi, who lived in Longheath Gardens, used false identities to swindle taxpayers' money from Croydon Council between 2003 and 2007.
Ubiribo claimed she was a single parent and a victim of domestic violence to claim housing and council tax benefit.
The fraudster said she needed help to pay £900 in rent every month and filled in forms saying her landlord was Ayiomike Neburagho, who lived in Acton, west London.
But at the same time, during 2006, her husband Ovo Mayomi applied for a visa to stay in the UK by saying he was a successful businessman.
Croydon Crown Court heard on August 13 that Ubiribo asked the council to re-house her because she was a victim of domestic violence.
But the telephone numbers she gave for her ex partner and her landlord were the same.
Checks also showed nobody by the name of Neburagho lived at the address in Acton which indicated her landlord was really her husband.
The council's anti-fraud team launched a joint investigation with the UK Border Agency in January.
Mayomi was arrested and admitted that while living in Nigeria he had bought the identity of Mr Neburagho and entered the UK posing as him. Investigating officers also found a wedding photograph of him, using the Neburagho identity, marrying a Nigerian woman in the UK.
His original wife, Ubiribo, was charged with ten theft offences, four fraud offences and two immigration offences.
Mayomi was charged with nine counts of theft, one count of fraud, four immigration offences and one count of perjury for entering into a false marriage.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison while his wife was given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years.
She was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service and will have to wear a tag and submit to curfew for four months from 9pm to 6am.
She has been ordered to repay the benefits money she and her husband falsely claimed.
5 Comments
by Sheryl, Croydon
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 1:40AM
“The scams these people think up. I believe that assylum here is a privilage and if you embark upon antisocial and criminal behaviour than you for go being allowed to stay in the UK. They both of them should be deported if they are not going to jail. I am sick of these criminals coming to this country and robbing us blind”
by Anon, Croydon
Friday, October 08 2010, 9:44PM
“Trust me they are always declaring that if they go back they will be killed by stoning just to get asylum here then they get their families here next thing they are drivin expensive cars owning too many houses & shops thats why none of the school leavers can get a job because all these have taken over everything & I AM NOT RACIST i just think the white british & those born in this country should have first dipps on a live”
by Ivan opinion, ex Croydon
Wednesday, September 22 2010, 11:17AM
“tony - you have a way with words. Short and to the point. Put them on the next Nigerian Airways plane - baggage if there are no seats. Surely there must be a Nigerian prince who will pay their fares - they are always trying to give half their fortune to me if I give them my bank account details. Corruption is a way of life for Nigerians - what makes you think they will change when opportunities here are so great. I f I ever decide to be racist I will probably start with Nigerians.”
by tony, addo
Tuesday, September 14 2010, 12:34PM
“deport the scum....”
by Terry, Croydon
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:10AM
“The article says it all.
Why are people, (rephase that) scoungers allowed to get away with this kind of behaviour when there are many deserving people out there who receive nothing.
Will the authorities take away their home (the one we pay for)....... NO.
Will they send them back to their native Country......... NO.
It will be left to the tax payer to subside them once more.
I, myself, have live in Croydon all my life as did my parents and theirs, worked since 16 till now and find myself redundant. What help do I get...... Nothing,No benifits. But it has been sugested at the job centre that I could sell my house to fund my family. Will they find me a house to live in if I do...... I think not.
I will put my hand up if the Goverment can not afford to sent this family back to their native land, I'll pay the air fare, or is it too dangerous to go back because they are criminals?”