UK immigration offender jailed

13 Apr 2011 | Posted by Carl Thomas

A Nigerian man has been jailed for UK immigration offences after he made use of a false passport.

Oluseye Sunday Olundegan, a 37-year-old, has been jailed for eight months at Belfast Crown Court after being convicted of four counts of fraud.

His UK immigration offences included using false representation and possession of false identity cards - two false Nigerian passports and a National Insurance card.

Mr Olundegun remained in the UK illegally and made use of these documents to open bank accounts and gain employment using the false passports in Belfast.

Mike Golden, assistant director at the Northern Ireland branch of the UK Border Agency (UKBA), commented: "The government has tasked the UKBA with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity to tackle immigration crime.

"We are determined to create a hostile environment which makes it harder than ever for illegal immigrants to come to the UK and put down roots."

He added that the force is aiming to clarify that anybody who attempts to commit this kind of immigration fraud will be found and prosecuted.

Mr Olundegan will be removed from the country as soon as possible following his release from prison.

The news comes after four immigrants were found to be working without the correct UK visas at an Indian restaurant in Cheshire.

Checks found the four Bangladeshi men working at the Red Fox establishment without the necessary UK immigration documents.

The company now faces civil penalty notices and fines of up to £10,000 for each worker if it is found not to have conducted the correct immigration checks for passports or work permits.

Red Fox has previously been issued with such a notice in July 2010 for employing five immigrant workers illegally.