A Nigerian woman who came to Britain illegally to fund her four children's education has been jailed for six months.
Adenike Banjo, 49, of Beeston Road, Moston, used a fake Nigerian passport to secure work at HR Care, in Sale, and Downshaw Lodge, Ashton-Under-Lyne.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard she sent money back to her homeland where her four children were looked after by their elderly grandmother.
The cash helped her eldest child, 25, gain a business degree and another, 23, is still at university.
A third child, 17, is about to start university and the youngest at 13 is still of school age.
The court heard Banjo came to Britain in 2004 and following her 18-month spell at HR Care switched to Downshaw Lodge.
But she was arrested in Ashton on June 29 following an investigation by the UK Border Agency.
Banjo admitted two counts of using a fake passport and Judge Angela Nield said although the story was a 'sad one', jail was the only option.
She said: "These offences are regarded as serious, they are part of a wider issue of illegal immigration in this country. While your entry into this country was illegal you have paid the appropriate taxes and you have not claimed state benefit.”
After arriving in Britain Banjo decided she wanted to work so arranged for a fake passport to be sent.
In it was a 'Home Office' vignette stating she could stay in the country indefinitely.
Mark Shepherd,defending, said: "She cuts a very forlorn figure. She accepts what she did was wrong but deep down thought she was doing it for the right reasons.
"She sent as much money home as she could, it was to fund her children's education."
Jailed, illegal immigrant who used cash to fund kids’ education
July 09, 2010
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send her back to nigeria
What a disgrace, this women who only enters the uk to better her and her families life by working hard for a living goes to jail while a drunken yob who spits at paramedics walks free.
The other thing that strikes me is that this women managed to find employment where many of our work shy country men say there is none and has avoided taking benefits. Still cant wait to hear the cries of deport her to ring out, she clearly isn't the kind of person they would want living in this country.
Is this story such a shock? this is just the the tip of a very large iceburge. "she was doing it for the right reasons." What is right about fraud and stealing from others (the british taxpayers).And why should the british taxpayer carry on paying for her in jail only to get legal aid to help her stay in britain no doubt......
A broken english speaking migrant from another country can put all this effort in to finding a job, its a shame most Brits cant even get out of their jammies, never mind contribute to the economy and the country! 6 months jail for contributing to this country, while we fund and let off scot free the scum of the country, really is just mad!
surely the better option for tax payers would of been to deport her. instead she will have a criminal record for trying to support her children.
I think this is harsh. This lady came her to provide a better life for her children. She has got a job, paid her way and she is being punished for it? I would rather have an illegal immigrant coming here for a better life and contributing to society that a legal immigrant with there hands out complaining about not getting a nice enough house to live in for free!
Why jail her? Why not just deport her?
"After arriving in Britain Banjo decided she wanted to work so arranged for a fake passport to be sent."
After arriving here, so what was the original plan.
The crime here is using a fake passport. Everything else she did is not of our concern. Trying to enter any country and producing a fake passport is a serious offence. As for deporting her, she has (or had) a job, paid her taxes and didn't claim benefits, so she's no burden to the UK taxpayer (apart from her jail time). My only concern is her children. If she stays after completing her sentence, will they want to join her? And that's when it starts getting complicated and a possible burden to the taxpayer.
So she has been sent to jail why? Does not make sense to me!
TRU DAT
Are you real? Who are these people who use fake documents to work here ,they could be killers rapists Etc there have even been cases of people who have committed genocide using fake documents who have been allowed into britain to work.Its time we forced people to work for their benefits (if they are fit enough).Maybe if we forced our people to work there would be no jobs for immigrant workers.
Britain is awash with similar stories.
what a total disgrace this lady has not sponged or claimed benefits illegally yet she gets six months yet we have benefit fraudsters getting many many thousands of pounds yet they very rarely end up with a jail sentace this lady only had a bit of paper illegally in all truth she supported herself and paid taxes which went towards paying the workshy of this country ridiculous sentance but theres the british judicial system at its very finest
get of her back. at least she was'nt spongeing of us, she was workinggggggggg.
don't send her back instead give her a pat on the back for grafting so hard.
D c
A broken english speaking migrant from another country can put all this effort in to finding a job, its a shame most Brits cant even get out of their jammies, never mind contribute to the economy and the country! 6 months jail for contributing to this country, while we fund and let off scot free the scum of the country, really is just mad!
Who are these "Brits" who you eloquently refer to. When you say "Brits" do you mean just white "Brits" or all "Brits" living in this country whatever their ethnic background? And for your further education the vast majority of working age "Brits" do actually do that, work. This illegal immigrant who was not entitled to be in this country let alone work has prevented a "Brit" who may have been desperate for employment getting such employment. She should be deported immediately folowing her prison sentence ad should be refused any tax payer funded appeal to remain here.
Hodo you know she paid tax and NI?
Classic case of being lured by the bright city lights of Manchester open society. While journeying on the Iceberg vessel of false passport pirate ship called Euroland. Manchestoh the golden gate of employment.
""A MAN suspected of helping to kill nearly 90,000 people in Rwanda protested his innocence after it was revealed he has been living in Manchester for three years under a false name. "" Does anyone remember this story in the MEN a few years ago? Who do we allow in britain (we dont have a clue where they come from) .We need to check everybody who comes into britain.(properly).
Guten Tag, Manchester
How do you know she dosnt claim benefits (forged names and documents) she could even been claiming from several addresses.When these people get these documents they are into all sorts of scams from credit cards to bank loans and they even purchase houses to rent off etc. (We dont really know who we have in the country).
Zingo, Manchester
"Its time we forced people to work for their benefits "
At least it would mean we wouldnt be forced to read your daily rants about jailing and deporting women for working hard and trying to provide an education for her children
Can we not keep her here and send one of our own home-grown workshy spongers to Nigeria instead.
It is so easy to jail her for the fake passport. What was done about the Israel government (alledgedly) faking several British passports in the Dubai/Hamas murder?
The most positive way of reducing the illegal immigrant problem that we have in the UK is to discourage and punish those that are caught living here illegally.
If we keep bending the rules because the illegal immigrant works hard or has got children or a terminal illness then others will follow in their footsteps.
When they are caught they should have their forehead branded with the word "illegal" and then sent packing. Don't lock them up or keep them in a holding center. That's just an additional cost to the taxpayers of this Country.
Zingo
"How do you know she dosnt claim benefits (forged names and documents) she could even been claiming from several addresses.When these people get these documents they are into all sorts of scams from credit cards to bank loans and they even purchase houses to rent off etc. (We dont really know who we have in the countr"
We don't know that she did, and no evidence of any of that seems to have been produced. Despite you fevered imaginings people are still deemed to be innocent of wrong doing in this country until evidence is produced and guilt established in a court.
Also was the man you describe as being accused of being involved in mass murder in Rwanda ever proved to have been? And what as it got to do with this case, Rwanda being a different country many mile from Nigeria?
Did she have a NI number?