British judges sentence Nigerian pair to prison for defrauding authorities out of nearly half a million pounds in taxes

A Nigerian couple, Luciana and Femi Akanbi, have been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in the United Kingdom for masterminding a large-scale fraud involving stolen personal data of Transport for London employees, a case deemed the most severe data breach in the agency's history.

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The couple's fraudulent activities involved submitting 139 false tax rebate claims to HM Revenue and Customs, resulting in losses of over £433,000 to the public purse, with the total value of claims submitted being close to £650,000.

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Luciana Akanbi, 38, who worked in Transport for London's human resources department, accessed sensitive personal information of her colleagues, including passport details, National Insurance numbers, and bank records, which were then used to facilitate the fraud.

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The fraud, which took place between September 2021 and January 2022, affected at least 40 employees, whose data was used to submit the fraudulent claims, with the couple using 38 computer devices from their home and other locations to carry out the scheme.

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Delivering the judgment, Judge David Miller stated that the case represented the worst data breach in Transport for London's history, resulting in significant losses and damage to the morale and staff performance of the agency.

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Judge Miller noted that the couple had accessed the personal details of 107 employees, using the information to make 139 claims for tax rebates, with the money lost to HM Revenue and Customs being rapidly laundered through a complex scheme.

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The court heard that Luciana Akanbi, who had been employed by Transport for London since 2017, used her position to exploit the personal records of her colleagues for fraudulent purposes, with prosecutor Andrew Evans describing the operation as sophisticated and involving extensive planning.

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According to evidence presented in court, about £66,000 was traced to Femi's bank account, while £16,000 was linked to his wife, although the court determined that their total benefit from the scheme exceeded these amounts.

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Financial pressures, including Femi's struggles with a gambling addiction following illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, were cited as contributing factors to the crime, with Judge Miller noting that over £50,000 of the stolen funds had been paid into various gambling accounts.

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Luciana Akanbi initially attempted to shift the blame by suggesting that a relative working in the IT sector may have been responsible for the data breach, but Judge Miller ruled that both defendants were central to the scheme, stating that the fraud was only possible due to Luciana's access as a trusted employee.

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Judge Miller emphasized the significant damage caused to third parties, including the impact on their credit ratings and the need to rearrange their finances, stating that the couple's actions had been extremely damaging.

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No compensation order was made, as the couple had no recoverable assets, with Judge Miller noting that the severity of the sentence reflected the gravity of the offense.

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Following the ruling, a representative of Transport for London stated that the organization had strengthened its internal data protection systems to prevent a recurrence, welcoming the court's sentencing of the couple.

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A spokesperson for HM Revenue and Customs warned that the agency would continue to pursue individuals who attempt to exploit the tax system, emphasizing the importance of protecting public funds.

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The court also indicated that the couple could face deportation proceedings after serving their sentences, marking a further consequence of their actions.