63-Year-Old Nigerian Finally Wins UK Residency After 38 Years

A 63-year-old Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, has finally won his right to remain in the United Kingdom after living in the country for 38 years.

George, who arrived in the UK in 1986 at the age of 24, has never returned to Nigeria and has no criminal record. His journey has been marked by hardship, including homelessness and serious health challenges. In 2019, he suffered two strokes that left him with speech and mobility difficulties.

He told the immigration tribunal that he had endured years of sofa-surfing, relying on friends for shelter, and avoiding his GP out of fear that his undocumented status would lead to deportation, a decision that preceded his two cardiovascular attacks.

“I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on, too many to count,” he 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.”

George’s immigration struggles worsened in 2005 when his former solicitors submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport without his knowledge. The solicitor involved has since been struck off, and the case was reported to police and regulatory bodies.

Despite several applications for leave to remain being rejected by the Home Office, George persisted. The immigration judge who ruled in his favour described him as destitute, acknowledging that his vulnerable health and lack of family in Nigeria made his situation exceptional.

His lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, welcomed the ruling, saying:

“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.
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 and the case went to a full court hearing. I am overjoyed with the decision. He has waited for it for almost four decades.”

The ruling marks a new chapter in George’s life, ending decades of uncertainty and offering hope for stability after years of struggle.