A Nigerian doctor, Olubunmi Adeagbo-Sheikh, based in the United Kingdom, has been sentenced for orchestrating a housing benefits scam amounting to nearly £12,000.
The fraudulent activities took place during his medical training between September 2018 and September 2019, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Adeagbo-Sheikh allegedly fabricated a non-existent landlord named Paul Baker and forged a tenancy agreement to claim £900 per month in rent for an apartment in Gipsy Hill, London.
However, investigations revealed that the provided address did not exist.
The doctor received monthly payments of £1,217.82 from the Department for Work and Pensions, including a housing benefit.
Authorities uncovered the deception during an investigation, revealing that Adeagbo-Sheikh resided with his mother in Swanley, Kent, not at the claimed London address.
The doctor’s Universal Credit application contained false details, leading to his arrest in October 2019.
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Additional evidence, including a fraudulent application and fake tenancy agreements, was discovered during a police search. WhatsApp conversations discussing false claims for universal credit were also found.
Admitting guilt, Adeagbo-Sheikh received a 12-month community order and was mandated to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The judge acknowledged the potential impact of a custodial sentence on the doctor’s medical career, given his status as a registered doctor since 2020.