By Our Correspondent

National News – A Nigerian couple, Femi Akanbi and Luciana Akanbi, have been sentenced in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of a large-scale tax fraud involving stolen employee data.

The conviction was secured at Woolwich Crown Court, where both defendants received three years and nine months’ imprisonment for their roles in the scheme.

Investigations revealed that Luciana, who worked in the human resources department of Transport for London, unlawfully accessed sensitive personal information belonging to colleagues.

The data included passport details, National Insurance numbers, and banking records, which were subsequently used to submit fraudulent tax rebate claims to HM Revenue and Customs.

The fraudulent operation involved the submission of numerous false claims using multiple digital devices.

Authorities said the total value of the claims approached £650,000, with confirmed losses exceeding £433,000.

The funds were rapidly moved through a complex network, making recovery efforts difficult for investigators.

Delivering judgment, David Miller described the incident as a severe breach of trust and one of the most damaging data compromises experienced by the transport authority.

The court also noted that both defendants directly benefited from the proceeds, even though only part of the money was traced to their personal accounts.

Further details presented during the trial showed that a significant portion of the stolen funds was spent on gambling activities.

Attempts to shift responsibility were dismissed after evidence confirmed the couple’s central involvement in the scheme.

The case left lasting consequences for affected employees, many of whom faced financial disruptions and compromised personal records.

In response, Transport for London has strengthened its internal data protection systems, while HMRC reiterated its commitment to tackling tax fraud.

Authorities indicated that deportation proceedings may follow after the prison terms are completed.