Nigerian Couple Jailed for £433,000 Tax Fraud in UK

Luciana Akanbi, 38, and her husband Femi Akanbi were sentenced to three years and nine months in prison by Judge David Miller at Woolwich Crown Court for their involvement in a large-scale tax fraud scheme that defrauded HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of £433,000. The couple submitted 139 fraudulent tax rebate claims using sensitive personal information of at least 40 employees from Transport for London (TfL), where Luciana worked in the human resources department.

The fraud occurred between September 2021 and January 2022, with the total value of claims submitted reaching approximately £650,000. The court highlighted this case as one of the worst data breaches in TfL's history, with significant financial losses and damage to the agency's reputation.

Femi Akanbi reportedly struggled with gambling addiction, which contributed to the crime. The court did not issue a compensation order, and the couple faces deportation after serving their sentences.