Disabled Nigerian Man Wins Appeal To Stay In The UK After 38 Years Of Legal Battle

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

A 63-year-old disabled Nigerian man who has lived in the United Kingdom for nearly four decades has won his appeal against deportation, following repeated refusals by the Home Office to grant him leave to remain.

Anthony Olubunmi George arrived in the UK in 1986 at the age of 24 and has lived in the country continuously since then. Despite never being convicted of any crime, he faced the prospect of deportation after multiple rejected applications to regularise his immigration status.

In 2019, George suffered two strokes which left him with severe mobility and speech difficulties. Over the years, he has endured long periods of homelessness, relying heavily on the kindness of friends who offered him temporary accommodation. He says he no longer has any close family in Nigeria.

“I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on—too many to count,” George said. “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.”

George’s case was further complicated when a previous solicitor submitted a forged passport entry stamp in 2005, a fraudulent act George insists he knew nothing about until years later. The solicitor has since been struck off and reported to the police and relevant legal authorities.

His current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, argued that George’s long struggle was caused not only by rigid Home Office policies but also by poor representation in the past.

“My client has been living in limbo for almost 40 years, has suffered two strokes, and has no family left in Nigeria,” Kandiah said. “His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also due to previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”

In rejecting his earlier applications, the Home Office had argued that George’s friends and family could visit him in Nigeria. However, the immigration tribunal judge who overturned the decision noted that George’s previous legal representative had been struck off, and that George had even stopped seeking medical care due to fears over his immigration status.

“It is unfortunate that the appellant went on to suffer two cardiovascular attacks having refrained from going for health checks,” the judge stated, acknowledging that George had been destitute during his years in the UK.

Following the ruling, Kandiah expressed relief: “Despite our several applications asking the Home Office to review the matter rather than proceed to a full hearing, our requests were repeatedly refused. I am overjoyed with this decision. He has waited for it for almost four decades.”

George’s victory brings an end to a long and painful chapter, allowing him to finally build a stable life in the country he has called home for 38 years.