Nigerian man wins deportation battle in UK

An undisclosed Nigerian man has won a deportation legal battle against the authorities in Britain despite his criminal record in the United Kingdom.

The Nigerian, who claimed to be gay despite having been married to a woman, relocated to the UK in 1983 and made a series of asylum claims unrelated to his sexuality.

According to The Telegraph, he told the British authorities that he would face persecution if he returned to Nigeria because of his political opinions.

“But when this was rejected, he sought leave to remain on the basis that he had married a woman living in the UK,” the report said.

When the initial argument was dismissed by the Home Office, he sought the right to stay in the UK after fathering a son.

He also argued that his removal from the UK would be a breach of his rights to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

He was later jailed for four years for violent disorder, leading to the government issuing an order for him to be deported.

When he gained his freedom, he entered into a three-year relationship with a man, after which he submitted a claim to reside in Britain on the basis that he would be persecuted for being gay if returned to his home country.

After a final appeal hearing, immigration judges ruled that they were “satisfied to the lower standard” that he was gay, which would expose him to the “real risk of persecution” if he was deported to his home country.

“Accordingly, the appellant has a well-founded fear of persecution, and he therefore qualifies for protection under the Refugee Convention,” the judges ruled.

“We are also satisfied that the appellant’s removal would breach his rights under Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR.”

“However, we consider that the appellant’s account should not be rejected solely because of his immigration history or because he did not rely on his sexual orientation to remain in the UK prior to 2015,” they said.

The 61-year-old has a conviction for violent disorder and was jailed for four years in 2003, leading to an issuance of a deportation order in 2006.