Nigerian groom at sham marriage is jailed for 12 months. Why do we do this?

Abiola Kumoye (right) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to breach immigration law acquiring criminal property while Ayodeji Abbis (left) was found guilty of the conspiracy 

A Nigerian groom has been jailed for 12 months for a sham marriage where he picked Celine Dion’s song 'The first time ever I saw your face' to march down the aisle.

Hull University masters student Jayeola Abiola, 29, needed to marry to stay in the UK, and paid Portuguese Vania Pinheiro-Fernandes, 29, to be his bride.

They met for the first time at their dress rehearsal and he stumbled to pronounce her name.

Vania Pinheiro-Fernandes bought her dress, tiara, wedding veil, and flowers from British Home Stores in Leeds for £245 with the groom watching, Hull Crown Court heard. 

She had bought the dress two hours before the ceremony and still had 60 miles to drive down the M62.

Leeds law student Ayodeji Abbis, 25, was paid £1,000 to act as the best man. He was one of six people who turned up for the ceremony.

But the wedding plans turn sour. Officers of the UK Border Agency had been tipped off by the Hull Registrar that the couple seemed to barely know each other when they were interviewed at the rehearsal. 

So Border Agency secretly filmed a wedding video of the cars, groom, bride and best man arriving outside the grand 19th century council town hall before arresting them at the door. 

Jailing the bride and groom today at Hull Crown Court Gurdial Singh said: 'It is often said sham marriages are too prevalent and strike at the heart of the immigration system. 

'Deterrent sentenced are called for and custodial sentences are inevitable. 

'You Abiola were in danger of becoming unable to stay in this country. It was ultimately a sham marriage and you were prepared to pay for it. 

'It was not a question of family and friends wishing to indulge love, to do you a favour.

'You Pinheiro-Fernandes played your part and were to be the bride. You went along with this and bought the dress turning up at the ceremony.' 

He said Pinheiro-Fernandes, a former air-steward, should be jailed for eight months because she played a lesser roll.

The marriage was to cost £5,000. Around £2,500 was paid in advance and the rest was to be paid on completion.