A Nigerian couple, Luciana Akanbi and Femi Akanbi, have been sentenced in the United Kingdom to three years and nine months in prison each for their roles in a major tax fraud scheme involving stolen employee data.

The case was heard at Woolwich Crown Court and involved fraud against the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs, as well as Transport for London.

Prosecutors said Luciana Akanbi, who worked in the HR department of Transport for London, accessed sensitive personal data of employees, including passport details and bank information.

The couple then used the data of at least 40 employees to submit 139 fraudulent tax rebate claims, causing losses of over £433,000.

The court described the case as the worst data breach in Transport for London’s history, noting that the stolen funds were quickly moved through a complex money laundering scheme and partly spent on gambling.

The judge ruled that both defendants played central roles in the fraud and rejected attempts to shift blame, adding that the scheme caused significant harm to victims and public institutions.

Authorities also confirmed that deportation proceedings may follow after the completion of their prison sentences.