Nigerian Couple Jailed for £433,000 Fraud in UK

Luciana Akanbi, 38, and her husband Femi Akanbi were sentenced to three years in prison by Judge David Miller at Woolwich Crown Court for their involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme that exploited personal data from at least 40 Transport for London (TfL) employees. The fraud, which ran from September 2021 to January 2022, involved the creation of 139 fake tax refund claims using sensitive information, including passport details and national insurance numbers.

Luciana, who worked in TfL's human resources department, accessed personal records of 107 employees to facilitate the scheme. The total value of claims submitted was nearly £650,000, but the actual loss to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was confirmed at £433,000.

The court heard that the couple laundered the stolen funds through a complex network, with Femi reportedly struggling with gambling addiction. Judge Miller noted the significant damage caused to the victims and the public, emphasizing the need for improved data protection measures within TfL.