A UK-based Nigerian doctor, Olubunmi Adeagbo-Sheikh, has been found guilty of a housing benefits scam in which he created a fake landlord and forged a tenancy agreement to illegally claim nearly £12,000. Adeagbo-Sheikh committed the fraud during his medical training in the United Kingdom between September 2018 and September 2019, as reported by the Daily Mail. He 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 scam involved Adeagbo-Sheikh receiving monthly payments of £1,217.82 from the Department for Work and Pensions, which included a housing benefit. The 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.
During the police search, additional evidence was uncovered, 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. 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.