Ibukun Olashore, CEO of the Organisation of Blind Africans and Caribbeans (OBAC), was charged in March 2021 and convicted in 2022 of offences involving facilitation of breaches of UK immigration law and possession of identity documents with intent. A judge found the charity had been used as a front and that Olashore used OBAC to disguise dishonest activities and potentially find people to exploit for money. She became automatically disqualified from trustee and senior charity roles. Trustees failed to suspend her, did not investigate, continued offering immigration services after rejection, and lacked oversight of leases and incident reporting.
She was initially charged in March 2021 and was convicted in 2022 for conspiracy to do an act to facilitate to commission of breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, and of conspiracy to possess identity documents with intent. During her sentencing, the judge concluded that the charity had been used as a front, and that the evidence showed she was using OBAC as a way of disguising her dishonest activities and potentially finding people with whom she could take money.
Despite this, an inquiry has found that the trustees failed to take any steps to address the matter, such as suspend Olashore or carry out an internal investigation. The charity, which also provided education and training advice, was found to have been exposed to the risk of a criminal conviction by continuing to offer immigration services, despite the Immigration Advice Authority rejecting their application in July 2022.
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