Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
A 63-year-old Nigerian man, who has lived in the United Kingdom for nearly four decades, has won a legal appeal allowing him to remain in the country, despite the Home Office’s previous attempts to deport him.
Anthony Olubunmi George, who arrived in the UK at age 24 in 1986, has lived continuously in the country since then. Over the years, he has faced numerous challenges, including periods of homelessness, and has no criminal record. In 2019, George suffered two strokes, leaving him with significant speech and mobility difficulties.
“I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on, too many to count,” George said, reflecting on the decades he spent relying on friends for shelter.
His attempts to secure leave to remain were repeatedly rejected by the Home Office. Complicating his case, previous legal representatives submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport in 2005 without his knowledge. Those solicitors have since been reported to the police and legal regulatory bodies for professional misconduct.
George described his relief following the court’s ruling as life-changing.
“I’m so happy I don’t know what to say. My life has just begun again. Before I didn’t have hope, but now by God’s grace I can move forward with my life,” he said.
The successful appeal was overseen by an immigration tribunal judge, who cited George’s poor previous legal representation as a major factor in the prolonged difficulties surrounding his immigration status. The judge also acknowledged the serious health impacts of his situation, noting that George had avoided seeing his GP for fear of jeopardizing his stay, resulting in his two strokes.
George’s current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, emphasized the injustice of the Home Office’s repeated refusals to resolve the matter administratively before the case went to a full hearing.
“My client has been living in limbo for almost 40 years, 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,” Kandiah said.
The ruling ensures that George can now continue his life in the UK without fear of deportation, marking the end of a decades-long struggle and a new beginning for the Nigerian man who has endured years of uncertainty and hardship.
The report is based on court records, statements from George and his legal team, and coverage of his immigration appeal proceedings in the UK.
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