Thomas had written to his MP Evan Harris about conditions in the Centre - and had, like others active in the Detainees' Rights Committee, been victimised in the panic following the fire of 2003. Though suffering from epilepsy and undiagnosed TB, Thomas was beaten in the days after the fire and was then kept in criminal prisons for over a year awaiting trial. Yet the case against him was so flimsy that it was thrown out as soon as it came to court.

While other young men who had been similarly abused have now received compensation, Thomas died before his claim for damages had been submitted. His serious claim to asylum - facing death as a victim of religious persecution in Nigeria - was dismissed. He entered a twilight zone of working under false papers to send something home to his family (who viewed him as 'a hero' for all he managed to do for them).

Living in poverty, a bout of food poisoning led to the emergence of spinal TB and within a few days he was paralysed. For over a year he strove to learn to walk in hospital, and was moved on to a nursing home when, equally suddenly, he died.

A small group of family, friends and supporters met in Clare College Cambridge last week to remember Thomas and miss his constant laughter and optimism. Fellow detainees and prisoners, bail sureties and people who offered space in their home when he was freed, all remembered his beautiful style, his hope and utter belief in the possibilities of a better world here or hereafter.

The Kalu family need to bring Thomas's body back to Nigeria to bury himthere. They have been able to raise £600 but a further sum of £2,000 is needed by September 15th, when the hospital can no longer store the body.

Any donations are most urgently welcome.
Cheques should be made out to ' JAS Fund'. and sent to JAS Fund c/o
11a, St Martin's Almshouses, Bayham Street, London NW1 0BD.

Please help!