Third Attempt to Remove Deji Ogundimu

Deji comes from a well-known and politically active family in Nigeria, almost all of whom belong to the ruling party, the PDP. Deji, however, voiced criticisms of government policies on his regular appearances as a public analyst on television. When he refused to join the party a second time, in 2006, an assassination attempt was made on him, which he narrowly escaped.

He arrived in the UK in December 2006, where a friend promised to help him. This friend, however, kept him in fear of the authorities, with the result that Deji tried to survive on false papers, and on one occasion was reduced to shop-lifting, for both of which he served prison sentences. As a result he did not apply for asylum until 2008. His claim was refused on the grounds that he had not claimed on entry. He also lost an Appeal, because it was difficult to persuade people exposed to the strong-arm tactics of the PDP to testify for him (when his brother tried to find evidence for him, for instance, his apartment was ransacked the next day.)

Recently, however, he has gathered several pieces of new evidence: eg a letter testifying to his television role (which the court disbelieved), evidence about his relations with the PDP (also disbelieved), an affidavit about the attack on his brother, and - sadly - evidence that three weeks ago his mother and son were kidnapped, in order to put pressure on him to leave Nigeria (where it was thought he had returned) and desist in his criticisms of the ruling party. He has the support of his MP, Andrew Smith, and of dozens of people in Oxford, where his involvement in Oxfam and the CAB, and most recently in a poetry project sponsored by Oxford Brookes University, has won him many friends.

Despite all this, Deji was detained when he signed on April 20th, and given removal orders. These have been postponed twice, once when Andrew Smith intervened, and once when Deji's solicitor made an application for Judicial Review of the rejection of his Fresh Claim. After the evidence arrived of the abduction of his mother and son, he submitted a further Fresh Claim. On June 16th this was also turned down, and Removal Directions set for June 18th.

Deji's new evidence has never been put before a court. He has paid for the mistakes he made trying to survive here. If he is returned it will endanger not only him, but now his mother and son as well.

What you can do to help
1. Email/Fax/phone, Steve Ridgway CEO, Virgin Atlantic Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Deji Ogundimu - you can use the model fax ' (DejiOgundimuVA.doc) attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version, if you do - please quote, Deji Ogundimu due to be forcibly removed to Lagos, Nigeria on Virgin Atlantic Flight No VS 651 at 22.00 hours Thursday 18 June 2009

Tel: 08705 747 747 / Fax: 08701 900 959

Or use

E-mail: Flight feedback form

 Customer.relations@fly.virgin.com


2) Please send urgent faxes immediately to Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Deji Ogundimu be granted protection in the UK. Please use the attached "model letter" (DejiOgundimuAJ.doc) which you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do so, please remember to include his HO ref: 01122504.

Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)

Emails:  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
 UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"

Both are urgent now!

Thank you to all. Please let Deji's campaign know of any faxes/emails sent:  carole@cangier.co.uk


End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
 carole@cangier.co.uk