A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Samuel Olufemi James, who took part in a sham marriage, has been jailed for 22 months. The judgement took place at Derby Crown Court.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that James, who lived on Riddings Street, Derby, was arrested by officers of the United Kingdom Border Agency at his home on April 18, 2012.
According to a statement obtained from the UK Border Agency yesterday, his Portuguese bride and the match-maker were also arrested separately in connection with the wedding which held at St John the Divine Church, Willenhall, Coventry on June 30, 2009.
After her arrest, the bride told officers how she was recruited by Oscar Prata, an Angolan-born Portuguese in Lisbon, who paid her 2,000 Euros to take part in the marriage.
The woman married the 33-year-old Samuel James but admitted to the UK Border Agency investigators that she never saw him again after their wedding day.
Prata was also arrested on October 29, 2009 at another church in Coventry, St Chad’s, Wood End,? just before he was due to witness a double wedding with two Nigerians.
The two Nigerians were later jailed for a total of 4 years and 8 months, while Prata was jailed for 3 years. Prata was deported after serving his sentence.