•Jailed couple Femi and Luciana Akanbi
A Nigerian couple, Luciana Akanbi and Femi Akanbi, have been sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment in the United Kingdom for orchestrating a large-scale fraud involving stolen personal data of Transport for London employees, according to a report by KentLive.
The couple were jailed after being found guilty of submitting fraudulent tax rebate claims to HM Revenue and Customs, resulting in losses of more than £433,000 to public funds.
The fraud, which took place between September 2021 and January 2022, involved 139 false claims using the personal data of at least 40 employees, while records of over 100 staff members were accessed.
Prosecutors told Woolwich Crown Court that Luciana Akanbi, who worked in the human resources department of Transport for London, used her position to access sensitive information, including passport details, National Insurance numbers and bank records.
Delivering judgment, Judge David Miller described the incident as the worst data breach in the agency’s history, noting that it significantly impacted staff morale and operations.
“The money lost to HMRC amounted to over £433,000 and was quickly dissipated through a complex money laundering scheme,” the judge said.
The court heard that the fraud involved extensive planning and multiple devices, with funds traced to accounts linked to both defendants.
Prosecutors said the operation was sophisticated and involved a large number of victims, while evidence showed that part of the proceeds was spent through gambling accounts.
The court also heard that financial pressures, including a gambling addiction linked to illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the crime.
Judge Miller ruled that both defendants played central roles in the scheme, stressing that the breach was made possible by Luciana’s access as a trusted employee.
Following the sentencing, Transport for London said it had strengthened its data protection systems to prevent a recurrence, while HM Revenue and Customs warned that it would continue to pursue tax fraud offenders.
The court indicated that the couple could face deportation after serving their prison terms.
