A Nigerian woman, Sharon Omamogho (48), has been sentenced to two years in prison for working illegally in the UK using a counterfeit Spanish passport.
Omamogho submitted a job application in October 2023 under the assumed identity of “Mercy Igbinokhuo,” a Spanish national. However, discrepancies during a right-to-work check by her employer, Eximius Live In Care, triggered an investigation.
Authorities discovered Omamogho had been living and working in the UK illegally since 2012. She used various false identities, including a German national named “Mercy Noack,” to open a bank account where her wages were deposited. Her total illegal earnings amounted to £61,133.
During the sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, Omamogho’s defense lawyer explained she was supporting her family in Nigeria who needed financial assistance for care. The court also acknowledged her work in the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and her payment of taxes.
Despite these factors, Judge Carl Harrison emphasized the seriousness of the offenses. Omamogho pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation and possession of identity documents with improper intention.
Following her release from prison, the Home Office will determine her immigration status in the UK.
