Immigration officer faces jail for falsely issuing visas

An immigration officer has admitted misconduct after falsely issuing visas to people who were not entitled to stay in the UK.

Samuel Shoyeju, 53, who worked for the UK Border Agency at the time of the offences in 2008, admitted the count of misconduct in public office by falsely granting indefinite leave to remain to non-EU residents.

Judge Christopher Mitchell, at Basildon Crown Court, remanded Shoyeju in custody and warned him he faces a "significant custodial sentence". He committed the offence while working as an immigration officer in Croydon. He also worked as an entry clearance officer in Nigeria. For the prosecution, Lucy Kennedy said that Shoyeju, of Namur Road, Canvey Island, Essex, had issued scores of visas to Africans who would not otherwise have succeeded in applications to stay in the UK.

While the prosecution could not prove he did so in exchange for money, bank documents have been obtained showing he received payments of tens of thousands of pounds over the same period.

Rashidat Ana-Obe, 36, from Dagenham, has already admitted fraudulently receiving indefinite leave to remain in a linked case. A second woman faces a connected charge of misconduct in public office and is due to stand trial next week. Ana-Obe and Shoyeju will be sentenced once that trial is completed.