Anthony Olubunmi George, a disabled Nigerian man who has lived in the UK for 38 years, is facing deportation by the Home Office. George, now 61, arrived in the UK at 24 and has a clean record with no criminal convictions. Despite his long residence and health issues following two strokes in 2019, his applications for leave to remain have repeatedly been denied, the latest rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.
George, who no longer has immediate relatives in Nigeria, has experienced homelessness and relied on friends for shelter over the years. He expressed his despair, saying, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”
George’s troubles have been compounded by poor legal representation in the past. In 2005, his former solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport, which he was unaware of until years later. His current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, attributes George’s plight to this misrepresentation and is appealing the latest Home Office decision.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that applications must be considered on their merits and in accordance with immigration rules. The Guardian also highlighted the case of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside who has lived in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain despite spending most of his adult life in the country.
