Nigerian Couple Jailed for Transport for London Data Breach Tax Fraud

Luciana Akanbi and Femi Akanbi, a Nigerian couple, were jailed in the United Kingdom for orchestrating a sophisticated tax fraud scheme. Luciana Akanbi, an employee of United Kingdom===Transport for London, exploited her position to access sensitive personal data of 107 colleagues. This data, including passport details, National Insurance numbers, and bank records, was then used by the couple to submit 139 fraudulent tax rebate claims to United Kingdom===HM Revenue and Customs. The fraud, which occurred between September 2021 and January 2022, resulted in a loss of over £433,000 from the public purse. Judge David Miller described it as the 'worst' data breach in United Kingdom===Transport for London's history, impacting staff morale and forcing systemic changes. The proceeds were quickly dissipated through a complex money laundering scheme, with Femi Akanbi's gambling addiction cited as a contributing factor. Both were sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment.