A 63-year-old Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, has finally secured the right to remain in the United Kingdom after nearly four decades of uncertainty and legal battles.
George, who arrived in the UK in 1986 at age 24, has never returned to Nigeria. He has no criminal record but has endured years of hardship, including homelessness and serious health challenges. In 2019, he suffered two strokes that left him with severe speech and mobility difficulties.
For years, George relied on friends for shelter, sleeping on countless sofas as he battled rejection after rejection from the UK Home Office over his immigration status. His situation worsened in 2005 when a former solicitor unknowingly submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport, a mistake that complicated his case further. The solicitor was later disbarred, and the matter reported to the authorities.
During the recent hearing, the immigration judge highlighted George’s destitution and revealed that he had avoided seeking medical care for fear of deportation, a decision that preceded his strokes.
Speaking after the ruling, an emotional 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.”
His lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, criticized the Home Office and previous legal representatives, stating that George’s suffering was worsened by poor legal representation and repeated refusals to review his case.
“My client has been living in limbo for almost 40 years. He has no family left in Nigeria and has endured unimaginable hardship. We are overjoyed with this decision, which he has waited for nearly four decades,” Kandiah said.
George’s victory marks the end of a long and painful legal journey, giving him a new lease on life in the UK.
