A Nigerian couple, Luciana and Femi Akinbi, have been sentenced to prison terms in the United Kingdom after authorities uncovered a tax rebate fraud scheme that cost more than £433,000, allegedly carried out using stolen personal data belonging to Transport for London employees.
According to PUNCH, it was gathered from a Thursday report by Kent Live that the fraudulent activity took place between September 2021 and January 2022. It was based on confidential information belonging to at least 40 TfL staff, including passport details, National Insurance numbers and banking records, which were used to submit 139 false tax refund claims.
Proceedings at Woolwich Crown Court showed that Luciana Akanbi, 38, who was employed in TfL’s human resources department, had access to personal records of about 107 workers, which were later used in the scheme.
According to prosecutors, the couple created multiple self-assessment accounts with the stolen details and filed fraudulent claims to HM Revenue and Customs, using at least 38 electronic devices from their residence and other locations.
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While the total claims submitted were said to be nearly £650,000, officials confirmed that the actual financial loss stood at over £433,000.
The court was told that the proceeds were swiftly channelled through a complex laundering network, making it difficult for authorities to recover the funds.
Delivering judgment, Judge David Miller described the incident as the most serious data breach ever experienced by the transport authority.
Judge Miller said, ‘TfL suffered their worst ever data breach. It meant they had to change their systems.
“It affected their morale, I am told, and staff performance. You acquired and used the personal details of 40 employees in relation to making the claims for tax rebates but accessed the details of 107 employees.
“There were 139 claims in respect of 40 employees by self-assessment accounts being set up by you and others, using 38 computer devices from your own home and others. The effect was that there were 139 claims for tax rebates totalling just under £649,000.
“The money lost to HMRC amounted to just over £433,000. That money was almost instantly dissipated in a complex money laundering scheme.”
Further evidence revealed that Luciana Akanbi, who joined TfL in 2017, used her position to obtain personal information of 107 employees, which was subsequently exploited to facilitate the fraudulent claims.
Prosecutor Andrew Evans described the operation as sophisticated, involving careful planning and numerous victims.
“The fraud was sophisticated in nature, required significant planning and involved a large number of victims,” he said.
He added that the funds obtained from the fraud were quickly transferred through an intricate laundering network.
Court documents showed that approximately £66,000 was traced to Femi Akanbi’s bank account, while £16,000 was linked to his wife, although the court determined that their total gains exceeded those figures.
The court also heard that financial difficulties played a role in the offence, with Femi reportedly battling a gambling addiction after falling ill during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Miller said over £50,000 of the stolen funds had been channelled into gambling accounts.
He further noted that Luciana, a mother of three, initially attempted to shift responsibility by suggesting that a relative working in IT might have been behind the breach.
However, the judge found both defendants to be key actors in the scheme, stressing that the crime was made possible by the access Luciana had as a trusted staff member.
“You, Luciana Akanbi, had been colleagues with some of these people who were extremely badly let down.
“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,” the judge said.
Judge Miller also stated that no compensation order would be issued, noting that the couple had no recoverable assets.
Following the sentencing, a representative of Transport for London said measures had been strengthened to prevent a recurrence.
“We take any cases of fraud extremely seriously and welcome the court’s sentencing of these two individuals.
“This crime meant that hundreds of thousands of pounds were unable to be reinvested elsewhere for the wider public benefit and involved working closely with HM Revenue and Customs to secure a successful prosecution,” he said.
A spokesperson for HM Revenue and Customs warned that the agency would continue to take action against individuals seeking to exploit the tax system.
The court also indicated that the couple may face deportation proceedings after completing their prison terms.
(PUNCH)
