A UK-based Nigerian doctor, Olubunmi Adeagbo-Sheikh, is reported to have perpetrated a housing benefits scam by creating a fake landlord and forging a tenancy agreement to claim nearly £12,000.
Adeagbo-Sheikh made the fraudulent claim during his medical training in the United Kingdom between September 2018 and September 2019, according to the Daily Mail.
He was said to have provided false information, claiming to pay £900 per month in rent to a non-existent landlord named Paul Baker for an apartment in Gipsy Hill, London. However, investigations revealed that the address he provided did not exist.
The fraud involved Adeagbo-Sheikh receiving monthly payments of £1,217.82 from the Department for Work and Pensions, which included a housing benefit.
The deceit came to light when authorities conducted an investigation, leading to the discovery that the doctor lived with his mother in Swanley, Kent, and not at the claimed London address.
Prosecutors revealed that the doctor’s application for Universal Credit contained false details, and he was subsequently arrested in October 2019.
The police search uncovered additional evidence, including a copy of the fraudulent application and fake tenancy agreements related to the non-existent address.
WhatsApp conversations discussing false claims for universal credit were also discovered during the search.
Adeagbo-Sheikh admitted to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefits and was sentenced to a 12-month community order. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The judge acknowledged that a substantial custodial sentence could impact Adeagbo-Sheikh’s medical career, considering his role as a registered doctor since 2020.
Adeagbo-Sheikh’s actions were deemed a reckless attempt to exploit the system for financial gain during a challenging period, with the judge emphasizing the need for accountability and the impact of such behavior on society.
