A disabled Nigerian faces deportation after his leave to remain in the United Kingdom was recently rejected by the UK Home Office.
Anthony Olubunmi George, 61, has lived in the UK for 38 years but now faces a threat of removal from the UK.
He travelled from Nigeria to the UK at the age of 24 in 1986. He has not left the UK since and has no criminal convictions.
In 2019, he suffered two strokes, which left him with problems with speech and mobility.
When George arrived in the UK, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister. Rishi Sunak is the ninth to hold office since George has lived in the UK.
He has endured many periods of homelessness and says he has lost count of the number of friends who have given him shelter over the years. He says he no longer has any close family in Nigeria.
George has made various applications for leave to remain in the UK, which the Home Office has rejected, most recently on 7 May.
In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport and have subsequently been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.
George told the Guardian newspaper he knew nothing about the passport stamp until many years later.
His current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, cited his poor previous legal representation as the reason for George’s problems.
In his most recent refusal, Home Office officials said: “Unfortunately this is not something that is considered an exceptional circumstance.”
Kandiah has lodged an appeal against the latest refusal.
A previous Home Office rejection of his case states: “It’s open to your family and friends to visit you in Nigeria.”
George said: “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”
Kandiah said: “My client has been living in limbo for 38 years, with no family, has suffered two strokes and has no family left in Nigeria. His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also because of poor representation by previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Applications have to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”
