Four people have been arrested after a suspected sham wedding was stopped by Home Office staff at Belfast City Hall.
On Wednesday 28th 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.
Both were interviewed by 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 29th 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, Home Office Immigration Enforcement Officer 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.”
