Disabled Nigerian Man Wins Deportation Appeal After Nearly 40 Years in UK

A 63-year-old disabled Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, has won a landmark legal battle allowing him to remain in the United Kingdom, ending decades of uncertainty and threats of deportation from the Home Office.

George first arrived in Britain in 1986 at the age of 24 and has lived there continuously for almost four decades.

Despite his long residence and the absence of any criminal record, he faced repeated rejections in his attempts to secure permanent status, leaving him at risk of removal to Nigeria — a country he has not returned to in nearly 40 years.

His situation became more precarious after suffering two strokes in 2019, which left him struggling with speech and mobility. Homelessness compounded his difficulties, forcing him to rely on friends for shelter.

With no close family ties in Nigeria, campaigners argued that deportation would have amounted to a humanitarian crisis.

The Home Office had previously dismissed his applications, at one point suggesting that “family and friends” could visit him if he were returned to Nigeria.

Much of the case’s complexity stemmed from poor legal representation in earlier years, including a solicitor who in 2005 submitted a forged entry stamp on his passport without his knowledge. That lawyer has since been struck off.

In his ruling, the tribunal judge took note of George’s deteriorating health, his destitution, and the unfairness he suffered due to past legal failings.

The judgment concluded that forcing him to leave Britain would be disproportionate and contrary to his rights, clearing the way for him to finally remain in the UK lawfully.

Reacting to the decision, George expressed “overwhelming relief and joy,” saying he could at last live without fear of deportation. His lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, welcomed the outcome but criticised the Home Office’s handling of the case, stressing that years of uncertainty and hardship could have been avoided.

Rights advocates say the case highlights the struggles faced by long-term residents caught in legal limbo, especially those living with disabilities.

They argue it underscores the need for a more humane approach in immigration decisions, where health and humanitarian factors are given proper weight.

For George, the ruling marks the end of a decades-long battle — and the beginning of a new chapter in the only country he has called home for nearly 40 years.