A 61-year-old male Nigerian, with physical challenges, who has resided in the UK for 38 years, has deportation by the Home Office, staring him in the face.

Media reports indicate that Anthony Olubunmi George, migrated to the UK from Nigeria at the age of 24 back in 1986.

According to the Guardian UK, George has been law abiding throughout his unbroken stay in the UK, with a clean record, no criminal convictions.

However, in 2019, he experienced two strokes that had a significant impact on his ability to speak and move.

On his part, George maintains that he no longer has any immediate relatives residing in Nigeria.

His health challenge has exposed to several episodes of homelessness, which left him at the mercy of friends for shelter over the years.

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.”

In this regard, George had made multiple applications for leave to remain in the UK, all of which have been denied by the Home Office, with the most recent rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.

In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport which has since been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.

The Guardian UK cites George as claiming to completely unaware of the passport stamp until several years later.

His present legal representatives trace George’s trauma to previous poor legal representation.

According to his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, George’s difficulties can be attributed to his poor past legal representation.

In their latest rejection, officials from the Home Office stated that the situation was not deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.

Counting the failure of his previous applications being on the shoulders of his lawyers, Kandiah has filed an appeal challenging the most recent denial.

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.”

The Guardian UK cites a spokesperson for the Home Office, thus, “applications have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”

George might not be alone in this, as the Guardian UK also reported the story of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside.

Shardey has been living in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office, despite having spent the majority of his adult life in the country.

In a landmark announcement, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr, unveiled the eagerly awaited student loan programme set to commence this Friday.

Aimed at supporting 1.2 million students enrolled in federal tertiary institutions across the nation, the initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing access to education.

Speaking at a press conference held in Abuja, Sawyerr outlined the program’s initial phase, which focuses on providing assistance to students attending federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical colleges.

Sawyerr emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring easy access to the loan application process for eligible students. With streamlined procedures and online support available, applicants can navigate the application process with ease.

Highlighting the importance of education as a cornerstone for the nation’s development, Sawyerr expressed confidence in the programme’s potential to empower students and pave the way for a brighter future. He hinted at the possibility of expanding the programme to include state-owned institutions, further increasing its reach and impact.

The launch of the student loan initiative underscores the government’s dedication to investing in the nation’s youth and fostering educational opportunities for all. As the programme prepares to roll out, anticipation grows among students eager to access the support it offers for their academic pursuits.

Embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, appeared to have lost his cool at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which led to verbal attacks on the government’s legal team.

This followed the court turning down his bail application on Monday, despite its coming with several options for the court to look into.

A visibly angry Kanu, who had been in detention on allegations of treasonable felony, for about three years, called the prosecution counsel, Gboyega Awomolo, a terrorist and dishonest man.

The court had turned town Kanu’s plea for bail or transfer him from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the correctional service.

Another option that Kanu placed before the court was to place him under house arrest.

The presiding judge, Binta Nyako, turned down Kanu’s bail application in its entirety.

In the opinion of the Justice Nyako, the only option available to Kanu was to take the matter before the appellate court.

However, Justice Nyako ordered the DSS to consistently grant Kanu access to his legal team. She ruled that this should not exceed five people on every visiting day.

She ordered that Kanu must be given “a clean place” to consult with his lawyers at the DSS detention facility, adding that the IPOB leader must be granted access to a doctor of his choice.

Justice Nyako also cautioned that any attempt by Kanu’s legal team to file similar applications before the court would be regarded as a gross abuse of the judicial process.

In Kanu’s reaction to the ruling, he accused the Nigerian Government of violating the constitution and other international treaties following his forceful rendition to Nigeria.

In his words, “My lord, you said in your earlier ruling that you will not grant me bail until you make a determination about the reason for my disappearance. But you have not done so.

“At this stage, I am of the opinion that you can’t try me without first looking into that.”

On what sounded like an attempt to explain his ‘disappearance’, Kanu pointed out that “The criminals came to my house to kill me!

“I don’t understand why my trial must be conducted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the law of Nigeria as of today.

“This court is in violation of the laws of Nigeria. Section 2(3)(f) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, is very clear.”

It was at this point that Awomolo interjected, urging Kanu’s legal team to call him to order.

This led to the unthinkable as Kanu turned to Awomolo and tore him to shreds with his tongue.

“This man is a terrorist for conducting a trial in violation of an international treaty that Nigeria entered into. Once a treaty is entered into and signed, it becomes a law.” Kanu told the court.

On the entire court process, Kanu expressed the opinion that no court Nigeria was competent to try him.

A visibly angry Kanu, who brandished books including what many believed included the Nigerian constitution and other treaties said, “They are all terrorists! No court can try me in Nigeria. Anything done in violation of any treaty entered into by Nigeria is an act of terrorism.”

Turning to the prosecution counsel again, Kanu, said, “This man here is a terrorist as at today. He is a dishonest man! You are a terrorist! Who the hell are you? Follow what the law says.

“I have been in detention for over three years. You are the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and you are violating the laws of this country.”

A visibly shocked Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said that he was not angry about Kanu’s outburst.

“I am not a terrorist and I am not provoked by the action of the defendant. It is understandable. He is only being emotional,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to June 19 and 20 for continuation.