A 54-year-old Nigerian man, who fraudulently
claimed more than £34,000 in benefits with
a Nigerian alter ego, was on Friday, October
28th, sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Adebola Adesanwo , is a naturalised UK
citizen but as a dual-national, also has a
Nigerian passport.
Newport Crown Court heard how the former
cleaner, had a second alias under a false,
forged passport under the name of John
Adepujo.
He had previously pleaded guilty to charges
of possession an identification document
with intent and two counts of failing to
disclose information to make a gain.
Prosecuting, David Pugh said that border
agency officials became suspicious of the
defendant after he submitted a claim for sick
pay but was unable to provide certain
documents, alerting the border agency.
"On April 22, 2016, border agency officers
went to an address in Newport and they were
looking for John Adepujo," said Mr Pugh.
After leaving the property without finding the
fictitious Mr Adepujo, they returned three
days later believing that Adesanwo was the
man that they had previously looked for.
"On April 25, they went back. The
photographs were matched and he was
arrested," said Mr Pugh.
The period of offending was separated into
two timeframes – August 2007 to June 2008
and September 2009 and November 2015.
During that combined period, the defendant
falsely claimed £34,205.30, despite working
at a cleaner in Newport at the time.
Defending, Matthew Cobbe said that while
the defendant’s action were illegal, he was
not committing the fraudulent acts for
person gain or greed.
"He was sending the funds back to his
parents in Nigeria.
As the eldest son, he felt
compelled to do so," said Mr Cobbe.
Adesanwo's parents were both sick , and
before his appearance at magistrate’s court
earlier this month, he found out his father
had died from cancer.
Concluding, judge William Gaskell labelled
the offences as ‘sophisticated’, adding that
the defendant was claiming benefits on a
forged passport, despite being a UK citizen,
which would have entitled him to benefits
any way
However, the judge gave the defendant full
credit for his early pleas of guilt, and agreed
that Adesanwo had not used the money for
his own use, but to help his family in
Nigeria.
He will spend half in custody before being
released on licence and will pay a victim
surcharge of £100 on his release.
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