Grenfell Tower Fraudster Jailed For £33K Scam

A bogus Grenfell Tower fraudster, who claimed he was living in the tower block when it caught fire, has been jailed for a £30,000 scam.

Muslim Abolaji Onafuye, 54, later claimed his Ramadan fast caused temporary insanity once his story had been exposed.

He received £33,000 in accommodation and financial assistance from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and the Rugby Portobello Trust charity.

Onafuye, of Gorleston Street, West Kensington was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of two counts of fraud by false representation.

He received five years imprisonment.

Onafuye falsely claimed he lived on the 11^th floor of the council tower block and his brother died in the blaze.

During the trial he said during his police interview he only claimed to have been living in Grenfell as he was suffering from temporary insanity caused by not eating during Ramadan.

He later alleged that he had been volunteering after the disaster and was rehoused as a result of suffering trauma during that time.

Onafuye also stated he had never claimed to live in Grenfell Tower and disputed the evidence given by staff from various organisations.
Detective Constable Carlos Araujo, who led the investigation, said: “Onafuye shamelessly took advantage of the support being offered to those who were directly affected by the Grenfell tragedy and he has continuously failed to own up to his deplorable actions.

“We will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who is exploiting what happened at Grenfell and our thoughts remain with the real victims of this tragedy.”