A 49-year-old Nigerian woman who was previously denied asylum in the UK on eight occasions has finally been granted the right to stay after joining the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly became involved with IPOB in 2017, six years after arriving in the UK in 2011. IPOB, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government but not by the UK, was central to her latest asylum claim.
Judge Gemma Loughran of the UK Upper Tribunal ruled that the woman had a “well-founded fear of persecution” in Nigeria due to her association with IPOB.
The decision overturned an earlier ruling by a lower tribunal, which had dismissed her claim on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence of her political involvement.
Judge Iain Burnett, who initially rejected her case, argued that the woman deliberately joined IPOB to strengthen her asylum claim. However, the Upper Tribunal found that, given the Nigerian security forces’ approach to IPOB members, she could face arbitrary arrest or harm if deported.
“The security services act arbitrarily, arresting and detaining those suspected of IPOB involvement without assessing the extent of their participation or motivation,” Judge Loughran stated.
The ruling has sparked criticism, with UK Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip calling it a “comically ludicrous” interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The woman had expressed fears of being arrested upon arrival in Nigeria and possibly disappearing. While the initial tribunal dismissed this concern, the upper tribunal ruled that her identification as an IPOB activist could put her at risk.
The case has reignited debates over the UK’s asylum policies and the implications of affiliations with politically sensitive groups.
Source: Opinion Nigeria
