Dr. Olubunmi Adeagbo-Sheikh, a Nigerian doctor based in the United Kingdom, has been found guilty of perpetrating a housing benefits scam, fraudulently claiming approximately €13761.38 by fabricating a tenancy agreement for a non-existent flat.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Adeagbo-Sheikh engaged in this fraudulent activity while undergoing medical training in the UK from September 2018 to September 2019.
The scheme involved Adeagbo-Sheikh falsely asserting that he paid monthly rent of €1032.10 to a landlord named Paul Baker for an apartment located in Gipsy Hill, London. However, investigations revealed that the address provided by Adeagbo-Sheikh did not correspond to an actual property.
Authorities discovered that Adeagbo-Sheikh received monthly payments, including housing benefits, totaling €1396.57 from the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the scam.
The fraudulent activity was exposed during an investigation, which revealed that Adeagbo-Sheikh resided with his mother in Swanley, Kent, rather than at the claimed London address.
Prosecutors revealed that Adeagbo-Sheikh’s application for Universal Credit contained false information, leading to his arrest in October 2019. Subsequent police searches yielded additional evidence, including fraudulent application documents and fake tenancy agreements.
Adeagbo-Sheikh pleaded guilty to dishonestly making false statements to obtain benefits and received a 12-month community order. Additionally, he was mandated to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The judge acknowledged the potential impact of a custodial sentence on Adeagbo-Sheikh’s medical career, noting his status as a registered doctor since 2020. However, the judge emphasized the importance of accountability and condemned Adeagbo-Sheikh’s attempt to exploit the system for personal gain during a challenging period.
