UK September 23, 2025
A Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, has been granted the right to remain in the United Kingdom after a protracted 38-year struggle with the country’s immigration system.
George, 63, first arrived in the UK in 1986 at the age of 24. For nearly four decades, he lived without legal status, facing repeated rejections from the Home Office despite having no criminal record.
The situation was further complicated in 2005 when a solicitor, acting without his knowledge, submitted a forged passport entry stamp on his behalf. The solicitor was later struck off the roll for misconduct.
In 2019, George suffered two debilitating strokes that left him with significant speech and mobility difficulties. According to the tribunal, his fear of deportation had prevented him from seeking medical treatment earlier, thereby worsening his health condition.
Delivering its ruling, the immigration tribunal recognized the prolonged injustice in George’s case and granted him legal residency, a decision his lawyer described as both necessary and overdue.
“This decision is long overdue and brings an end to decades of uncertainty,” said Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors. “Our client was badly let down by unethical legal representation in the past, and it is a relief to see justice finally done.”
Reacting to the verdict, George expressed gratitude, saying: “I’m so happy I don’t know what to say. My life has just begun again. I thank God and everyone who stood by me.”
The ruling formally secures his right to remain in the UK, closing one of the longest-running immigration battles in recent memory.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
