A MAN has been told he faces jail after being convicted of arranging a sham marriage at an Oxfordshire register office.
Nigerian national Abiola Abdulkareem helped arrange the wedding ceremony between French national Maria Deroff, 20, and 36-year-old Nigerian groom Idowu James Ojomu.
The 32-year-old, from White Road in Cowley, Oxford, was arrested by UK Border Agency officers at Abingdon Register Office on May 14 last year.
He was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court of assisting unlawful immigration and possessing criminal property – bank credits.
Abdulkareem had previously admitted one count of bigamy.
Judge Patrick Eccles told him: “The sentence will be a custodial one.”
Investigations showed Ojomu had transferred about £5,000 to Abdulkareem.
Last year Ojomu admitted perjury and overstaying his visa, while Deroff pleaded guilty to perjury and assisting unlawful immigration. They were sentenced to 11 months and eight months respectively, and Ojomu was deported in December.
Abdulkareem was remanded in custody on Monday ahead of sentencing on July 20.
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