London, UK – A 63-year-old disabled Nigerian man who has lived in Britain for nearly four decades has won a landmark appeal against deportation, ending years of uncertainty and hardship.
Anthony Olubunmi George arrived in the UK in 1986 at the age of 24 and has never left. Despite having no criminal record, he spent decades fighting to secure legal status after a series of rejected applications by the Home Office. His case was complicated in 2005 when his former solicitors submitted a forged passport entry stamp without his knowledge, a move that later saw the lawyer struck off.
George, who suffered two strokes in 2019 that left him with mobility and speech difficulties, has endured homelessness and years of sofa-surfing. He said the court’s ruling has given him hope for the first time in years.
“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 said after the decision.
The immigration tribunal judge highlighted George’s destitution and health struggles, noting that his fear of deportation even kept him from seeking medical care. “It is unfortunate that the appellant went on to suffer two cardiovascular attacks having refrained from going for health checks,” the judge observed.
George’s current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, said the case underscored both the failings of past legal representation and the harshness of Home Office policies.
“My client has been living in limbo for almost 40 years, 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,” Kandiah said.
He added: “Despite our several applications to the Home Office to review the matter rather than proceeding to an oral hearing, our attempts were refused again and again. I am overjoyed with the decision. He has waited for it for almost four decades.”
The Home Office, which had previously argued that George’s family and friends could visit him in Nigeria, has yet to respond to the ruling.
