Latest news and updates
Four arrested after Belfast sham wedding
04 September 2013
Four people have been arrested after a suspected sham wedding was stopped by our officers at Belfast city hall.
On Wednesday 28 August, Lynda Kemisola Eremion a 29-year-old Nigerian woman who was in the country on a student visa was arrested along with her would-be groom, Adeshola Adekunie Bankole, 45, a British citizen.
They were interviewed by our officers and following a search carried out at an address, they claimed to be living at in east Belfast. Eremion was charged with attempting to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception and Bankole with assisting unlawful immigration.
Eremion appeared at Belfast magistrates court on Thursday 29 August, to answer to the charges and was remanded in custody to re-appear at the same court at a later date.
Bankole along with Aitua Mercy Tosin a 37-year-old Nigerian woman who was acting as a witness to the ceremony were released after interview but will appear at Belfast magistrates court on 25 September to answer the charges. Tosin is also charged with assisting unlawful immigration.
Another 46-year-old Nigerian woman who was also acting as a witness was released after caution.
Andrea Anderson, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office said:
'We are carrying out frequent operations in Northern Ireland to crack down on suspected sham weddings.
'Where we receive information that a wedding may be suspicious we will investigate.'
A sham marriage or civil partnership typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the European Economic Area as a means of attempting to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in the UK.
Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.