…the UK court jails Nigerian couple after HMRC fraud scheme in a case that also exposed the personal impact on victims.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — The iNews Times reports that a UK court jails Nigerian couple after £650,000 HMRC fraud scheme, in a high-profile case involving large-scale identity theft, insider data abuse, and fraudulent tax rebate claims linked to Transport for London employees.
Luciana and Femi Akanbi have both been sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment by Woolwich Crown Court after being found guilty of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud that exploited stolen personal data belonging to public transport workers in the United Kingdom.
The case has been described by the court as one of the most serious internal data breaches ever recorded within the UK’s transport system, raising fresh concerns about insider threats and data security in large public institutions.
The UK court jails Nigerian couple after £650,000 HMRC fraud scheme following evidence that Luciana Akanbi, 38, who worked in the human resources department of Transport for London (TfL), abused her position to access confidential employee records.
Prosecutors told Woolwich Crown Court that she accessed sensitive information including passport details, National Insurance numbers, bank records, and other personal data belonging to colleagues.
The stolen data was later used to submit fraudulent tax rebate claims to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Between September 2021 and January 2022, the couple allegedly used the identities of at least 40 TfL employees to submit 139 false tax rebate applications.
Although the total value of claims submitted reached nearly £650,000, the actual loss to HMRC amounted to approximately £433,000.
Delivering judgment, Judge David Miller described the case as the most severe data breach in the history of Transport for London.
He noted that the breach forced TfL to overhaul its internal systems and had a significant impact on staff morale and operational trust within the organisation.
“There were 139 claims in respect of 40 employees… using 38 computer devices from your own home and others,” the judge said.
He further explained that the funds obtained were quickly moved through a complex money laundering network.
“The money lost to HMRC amounted to just over £433,000. That money was almost instantly dissipated,” he added.
The court also heard that Luciana had accessed data belonging to as many as 107 employees, even though only 40 identities were directly used in the fraudulent claims.
Gambling, Financial Pressure and Illicit Transfers
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the stolen funds were rapidly distributed.
Approximately £66,000 was traced to Femi Akanbi’s account, while around £16,000 was linked to Luciana. However, the court ruled that the Nigerian couple’s overall benefit from the scheme was significantly higher.
The prosecution also revealed that financial difficulties contributed to the offence. Femi Akanbi reportedly struggled with gambling addiction following illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Miller noted that more than £50,000 of the fraud proceeds were transferred into gambling accounts, highlighting the rapid dissipation of stolen funds.
Despite these factors, the court concluded that both defendants played central roles in planning and executing the scheme.
UK court jails Nigerian couple after HMRC fraud scheme in a case that also exposed the personal impact on victims.
Employees affected by the breach reportedly suffered damaged credit ratings, financial stress, and complications in dealing with HMRC to resolve fraudulent claims made in their names.
Judge Miller emphasized the betrayal of trust involved, noting that Luciana had been a colleague of many of the victims.
“That is damaging; to have your credit ratings impacted, to deal with HMRC and to have to rearrange your finances. There was immense damage to third parties,” he said.
The court also ruled that no compensation order would be issued, as the defendants had no recoverable assets.
A spokesperson for Transport for London confirmed that the organisation has strengthened its internal data protection systems following the breach.
“We take any cases of fraud extremely seriously and welcome the court’s sentencing of these two individuals,” the spokesperson said.
The agency also confirmed that the stolen funds represented money that could have been reinvested into public services.
Meanwhile, HMRC reiterated its commitment to pursuing individuals who attempt to exploit the UK tax system.
Court officials indicated that the couple could face deportation proceedings upon completion of their prison terms.
Legal experts say such outcomes are common in serious fraud cases involving foreign nationals convicted in the UK.
The HMRC fraud scheme has drawn attention to the growing threat of insider-led cyber and financial fraud within large organisations.
Security analysts warn that as institutions become more digitised, internal access abuse poses one of the greatest risks to data integrity.
The case also highlights the importance of strict access control systems, employee monitoring, and multi-layered cybersecurity frameworks in preventing similar breaches.
The iNews Times will continue to follow developments around this case, including any deportation proceedings and further responses from UK authorities.
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