Fraudster faces prison

Monday November 14, 2011

A man who claimed more than £10,000 of housing and council tax benefit despite having enough cash to buy a house and rent it out is facing a prison sentence.

Ganiyu Anifowose, of Lancaster Court, Fulham was in receipt of benefit from Hammersmith & Fulham Council since at least April 2002 on the basis of a low income and that he lived with his wife and children at a council property.

However, the council’s corporate anti-fraud service uncovered that Anifowose, 42, held four bank accounts into which regular deposits were made. The deposits were high enough to mean that Anifowose was not entitled to benefit.

The rogue even bought a property which he rented out to Havering Council. He claimed on his mortgage application that his business made a profit of more than £60,000 a year.

On Friday, October 4, at Kingston Crown Court, Anifowose said that he had no knowledge of the information on the mortgage application form and that a man called ‘Sanny’ just asked him to sign. He also stated that he was told that the property was for free and he did not have to pay anything.

Anifowose was convicted of four counts of benefit fraud and will be sentence on Friday, November 25.

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “This fraudster thought that he was untouchable and assumed that he could do what he wanted without repercussions. Our corporate anti fraud service work round the clock to catch benefit cheats and the message to anyone who is considering acting in such an unscrupulous fashion is that you will be caught and brought to justice just like Anifowose.”

On conviction, HHJ Price QC said: “Anyone who has the mind to obtain benefits fraudulently from a local authority steals from every right-minded member of society. It is very likely these convictions will result in immediate imprisonment.”

In total Anifowose defrauded the council out of £8,151 of housing benefit and £1,925 of council tax benefit.