Nigerian Woman Granted UK Asylum After Joining Banned Separatist Group
A Nigerian woman who failed eight asylum attempts in the UK was finally granted the right to remain after joining a separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to bolster her claim. The 49-year-old, who arrived in Britain in 2011, joined IPOB in 2017, a group banned as a terrorist organisation in Nigeria but not in the UK. Despite acknowledging that her involvement with IPOB was solely to create a claim for asylum, Upper Tribunal Judge Gemma Loughran ruled she had a “well-founded fear of persecution” under human rights laws due to her “imputed” political opinion.
The woman had submitted eight unsuccessful appeals over a decade, including claims under Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights and assertions of being a victim of trafficking. Her ninth appeal succeeded after she argued she faced persecution in Nigeria due to her IPOB membership, citing her attendance at protests and rallies. She claimed Nigerian security services could identify her as an activist, leading to potential arrest or harm upon her return.
Judge Loughran overturned an earlier rejection by Judge Iain Burnett, who had dismissed her claim due to insufficient evidence of her protest activities. Loughran noted that Nigerian authorities act arbitrarily against suspected IPOB members, increasing the risk of persecution. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the ruling as “patently absurd,” accusing judges of misinterpreting human rights laws to allow migrants to remain in the UK.
The case has sparked debate over immigration policies, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling for Parliament, not judges, to set immigration rules. The Home Secretary is reportedly examining legal loopholes to prevent similar cases in the future. This ruling follows other controversial immigration decisions, including an Albanian criminal avoiding deportation over his son’s aversion to foreign chicken nuggets.
Failed asylum seeker can stay in UK – because she joined terror group
Nigerian migrant had case thrown out eight times before succeeding with claim that even judge admitted was not honest
www.telegraph.co.uk
Failed asylum seeker finally granted right to stay in Britain on NINTH attempt after joining terror group to BOOST her claim
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not banned in the UK
www.gbnews.com
Woman who failed 8 times to get asylum in UK succeeds after joining terror group
A Nigerian migrant was granted the right to stay despite the judge acknowledging she was not honest about her political beliefs.
www.express.co.uk
UK deports record number of Nigerians and Ghanaians in single flight
Flight comes as news emerges of plan to send asylum seekers who arrive on Chagos Islands to British territory of Saint Helena
www.theguardian.com
UK deports Nigerian asylum seekers
The United Kingdom has deported a record number of Nigerians and Ghanaians to their home countries.
punchng.com
Supreme Court judgement on Rivers state: Apex court recognise Amaewhule and pro-Wike lawmakers, stop allocations to Rivers state - BBC News Pidgin
Di Supreme court go deliver judgement on four cases wey involve Rivers State political crisis.
www.bbc.com
Non-British population in Scotland 2021 | Statista
There were approximately 62 thousand Polish nationals living in Scotland as of June 2021, the most common non-British nationality in Scotland, followe
www.statista.com
Asylum: UK deports 44 Nigerians, Ghanaians in single flight
In a record-breaking deportation flight, 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians were forcibly removed from the UK on Friday, marking a significant surge in immigr
www.vanguardngr.com