The Nation Newspaper

Tag: asylum seekers

  • Falana urges Fed Govt to obey judgments on asylum seekers

    Activist-lawyer Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Federal Government to obey the judgments ordering it to bring back refugees and asylum seekers who were deported by the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    He vowed to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents if they fail to comply with the verdicts within two weeks.

    In a March 20 letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), Falana said the judgments were on suits numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/147/2018 by Wilfred Tassang and 50 others against the NSA and another, and FHC/ABJ/CS/85/2018 by Mr. Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and 10 others against the NSA.

    The SAN said the applicants are refugees and asylum seekers entitled to legal protection under the 1999 Constitution, the National Commission for Refugees (Establishment Etc) Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations on Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Commission.

    According to him, in utter breach of their rights to personal liberty and dignity guaranteed by the statutory and international human rights instruments, they were deported from Nigeria and dumped in Cameroon on January 26, 2018 by the Office of the NSA.

    Falana said the applicants filed the lawsuits through his chambers to challenge their deportation.

    On March 1, Justice Anwali Chinkere of the Federal High Court declared the applicants’ deportation illegal and unconstitutional.

    The judge awarded reparation of various sums to them, and ordered the Federal Government to bring them back to Nigeria and restore all their rights and privileges as bona fide refugees and asylum seekers.

    “In view of the foregoing, we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to advise the Federal Government to comply with the aforesaid judgments of the Federal High Court without any further delay.

    “In particular, you may wish to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the case of the Minister of Internal Affairs v. Alhaji Shugaba Darman (1982) 3 NCLR 915 where the respondent who had been illegally deported to the Republic of Chad by the Federal Government was brought back to Nigeria in compliance with the orders of the Borno State High Court presided over by the Honourable Justice Oye Adefila of blessed memory.

    “Take notice that if the Federal Government fails to comply with the aforesaid judgments within the next two weeks, we shall not hesitate to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents including your good self without any further delay,” Falana writes.

  • Nigerians third largest asylum seekers in Germany

    The Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS), a German Foundation, has revealed that Nigerians are the third largest asylum seekers in the country.

    Dr. Gerhard Wahler, Head of Department, European and International cooperation of the foundation, made this known in Abuja during the celebration of 15 years of KAS operation in Nigeria.

    Wahler explained that the lack of an enabling environment continued to make Nigerians, especially youths, seek a better life in Europe hence, embarking on illegal migration.

    He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to boost socio-Economic development and improve welfare.

    “Africa and especially Western Africa, plays a pivotal role for us in Germany; in many ways, Africa shows a lot of potential.

    “There is a new generation of entrepreneurs, digital natives and inventors that can and will shape the future of the continent.

    “On the other hand, the unprecedented population growth, the lack of economic development, increasing scarcity of land and resources, will continue to drive people away towards Europe.

    “Today, Nigerians are for example the third largest group of asylum seekers in Germany.”

    Wahler said that the prevalence of terrorist groups in the region negatively affects development in Nigeria and the African region.

    He said that the forthcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Nigeria at the end of August was an important sign that Germany stands with Nigeria in countering security threats like Boko Haram.

    He said that while the challenges faced in the region were tremendous, Germany was ready to assist.

  • Australia jails Afghan man for smuggling people by boat

    Australia jails Afghan man for smuggling people by boat

    An Afghan men who arranged for the travel of over 200 refugees and asylum seekers by boat to Western Australia, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail, local media said on Friday.

    Sayed Abbas, 35, was pivotal in organising the transport of the asylum seekers coming from Indonesia on three overcrowded boats in 2009 and 2011.

    He had taken payments ranging from 5,000 Australian dollars (3,900 dollars) to 10,000 dollars from each person.

    According to Australian Associated Press, the Western Australia district court in Perth sentenced Abbas to 12 years in jail.

    Since Abbas has already served an extensive amount of time in prison, he could be freed next year on parole. He was imprisoned in Indonesia before being extradited to Australia in 2015.

    Read Also:  Saudi crown calls to support Afghan peace process

    On Friday, his lawyer read out a letter sent by Abbas, who is illiterate and had to ask another inmate to write for him, in the court that described his desperate life in Afghanistan.

    Abbas said that he had no job prospects and had to flee the Taliban.

    The court also heard thay he lived in a refugee camp for five years.

    He had endured torture while incarcerated in Indonesia and now suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    “I have been punished more than most in my circumstance,’’ he said.

    Judge Andrew Stavrianou said the offences Abbas committed were clearly serious and a violation of Australia’s sovereignty.

    He said Abbas was motivated by financial gain and was prepared to run the risk of punishment.

    “His crimes put the lives and safety of those on board at risk,’’ the judge said.

    NAN

  • 12,000 Nigerians asylum seekers face deportation in Germany

    More than 12,000 Nigerians asylum seekers in Germany may be deported, it was learnt yesterday.
    The Global Head of Programme, Migration and Development at the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Ralf Sanftenberg, made the disclosure yesterday when he visited the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
    Sanftenberg said: “We have over 37,000 Nigerians in Germany and more than 12,000 of them are asylum seekers.
    “There is a little chance for their applications to be moved and they may be forced to come back to Nigeria next year.”
    He said 99 per cent of them were likely to be denied asylum status because Nigeria is not among war countries.
    Sanftenberg explained that if they were willing to return voluntarily they would not be forced back or deported but would be assisted through a support programme organised by Germany.
    “We provide services for the retuning migrants in Nigeria, we can provide training for entrepreneurship.
    “We have provided for several other countries in the field of migration policy actually we want to find out to establish migrant services in Nigeria.
    “We are not focusing on returnees, what we are doing is to support the returnees to be reintegrated,” he said.
    Another member of the delegation, who is a consultant to the programme, Ms Stphania Alofokhia-Ghogomu, urged Nigerians seeking asylum in Germany to return home.
    Ms. Alofokhia-Ghogomu, who also a voluntary returnee, said she had spent half of her life in Germany and had to tome come back to contribute to development of Nigeria.
    She said she was helped by the German government to reintegrate when she came back.
    “And that is the situation, though if they chose to come back voluntarily they can get into the reintegrated programmes that are already available for them.
    “But the if they refused to come back voluntarily they will be deported, and if they are deported, they cannot go back to any EU countries in the next five years.
    “That is why it is advised to return voluntarily because they can always apply and go back to the place,” she said.
    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa hailed German Chancellor Angel Merkel for the way she was addressing the challenge of illegal migrants.
    “So, we will look forward to seeing what you want to do in terms of setting up German migrant services in Nigeria,” She said.
    The presidential aide called on Nigerians facing deportation in Germany to come back home and take advantage of the opportunities provided by German Government to assist them.
    “For Nigerians in Germany who want to return, there is a better place for them at home to help them live a better live.
    “Germany has the ministry of internal affairs and have budget for the returnees, and there are services that will be provided through Germany that they can enjoy,” she said.

  • Nigeria sends Togolese asylum seekers back home

    Nigeria sends Togolese asylum seekers back home

    Nigeria has deported the 119 Togolese asylum seekers who have been refugees their whole lives, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRA) said yesterday.

    The group of Togolese came to Nigeria in July after Benin Republic, which had hosted them for nearly a decade, stripped them of refugee status.

    Sogbo Maonou, who was among those deported, said Nigerian soldiers  loaded them onto buses in Lagos on Saturday and drove them to Togo through Benin Republic.

    Brigitte Eno, deputy representative for the U.N. Refugee agency in Nigeria, said the group should have been counselled before being repatriated.

    “They were supposed to be informed individually and counselled but immigration did it their own way,” Eno said adding:  “We were not even aware of the fact they were being put on buses.”

    General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Michael Akindele, said due process was followed, they were all interviewed but their requests for asylum were rejected.

    Many of the Togolese asylum seekers claim they face repression at home, having fled political violence after the 2005 election.

    Some said they witnessed family members being arrested and killed by the military because of their support for the opposition.

    Amnesty International reported in February that Togo sometimes tortures detainees. Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe was reelected in April after succeeding his father in the 2005 elections marred by violence and rigging to perpetuate a family dynasty that has ruled for nearly 50 years.

    The asylum seekers were spotted on Awolowo Road in Lagos in August, close to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Person, NCFRMI, office.

    The refugees were registered by NCFRMI officials.

    But the Lagos State Government which provided them with temporary shelter, urged the Federal Government to prevail on its agencies to repatriate back to their country the  illegal immigrants who took refuge at the state’s Emergency Resettlement Centres (ERCs) in Igando, Alimosho Local Government area and Agbowa, Ikorodu.

    Secretary to the State Government Mr. Tunji Bello said the government could no longer continue to accommodate the illegal immigrants due to the enormous pressure put on the ERCs at Igando and Agbowa facilities.

    Bello explained after the Togolese nationals were sighted at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi “Immediately Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was informed of their illegal presence,  he promptly directed that the relevant state agency should take up responsibility of accommodating them, initially at the Emergency Relief Camp (ERC) in Igando and later at its camp in Agbowa, Ikorodu,” he said.

    Bello added: “As at today, the number of Togolese illegal immigrants has increased from 114 to 199, putting serious pressure on the limited spaces at the two camps.”

    He pointed out that the Togolese immigrants were expelled from Benin Republic where they had lived for over 10 years.

    “They came to Nigeria, Lagos to be precise, and because of the accommodation provided by the state government at its ERCs, those illegal immigrants at the Igando camp started calling others on telephone in Benin Republic to come to Nigeria, telling them that they now have a new home. As at the Weekend, another 85 illegal immigrants of same Togolese descent were taken to ERC, Agbowa.

    “The state has discovered that many of them smuggle their ways through the Nigeria borders,” he said.

  • Why we fled Togo, by asylum seekers

    THE Togolese asylum seekers, who besieged the Ikoyi, Lagos Office of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) have been moved to a secure location, it was learnt yesterday.

    Their relocation from the front of the NCFRMI’s Office on Awolowo Road, which they turned to a make-shift relief camp, was facilitated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other security agencies.

    When our correspondent visited the office yesterday, only about five of the asylum seekers were seen.

    One of them, middle-aged Mr Aholou Koffi, said he was a political activist and a member of a political party, the Union Pour Les Forces Du Chargement (UFC), but had to flee Togo to Benin Republic when his life became endangered.

    On why they left Benin Republic, he said: “After 10 years, the government refused to recognise us as refugees. The Benin government knows our problem, but they did not recognise us.

    “We want to appreciate the government of Nigeria that welcomed and accepted us as asylum seekers. We now have a place we stay in Igbogbo. We still need government protection. We believe that the Nigerian government is very democratic.

    “I left Togo during the 2005 presidential election. I was the coordinator of my political party in my area. But after the election, they wanted to kills us. So, we escaped to Benin Republic,” he said.

    Koffi said they were afraid to return to Togo for fear of being killed.

    “We cannot go back to Togo because the government that chased us away is still in place. It has been there for three terms and that is not democracy,” he said.

    A source, who preferred not to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said the foreigners were not refugees neither were they abandoned but given full assistance, were registered and given the relevant documentation to enable them move about freely.

    The source described the Togolese citizens as asylum-seekers, who want to be granted refugee status in Nigeria and can only be described as refugees when they have been legally granted such status.

    The asylum-seekers, the source said, were originally in the Agame Refugee Camp in Benin Republic where they had fled to during a political crisis that engulfed Togo in 2005.

    According to the source, when the Republic of Benin government realised that normalcy had returned in Togo 10 years later, it asked the refugees to either be re-integrated into the Beniniose society as the camp was to be shut down, or return to their country.

    “They refused either of the option and have found their way into Nigeria,” the source said.

    It was learnt that when the asylum seekers got to NCFRMI Office, they were registered and given attestation documents to enable them move about freely pending when their refugee status would be determined.

    The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was said to have given each of the asylum seekers some money to enable them either return to Togo or find somewhere to stay pending their status determination.

    The source said: “Some of them turned down the gestures and instead preferred to camp out in front of the office for reasons best known to them.

    “So, it is important to note that anyone (individual, religious organisation or NGO) seeking to provide help and/or shelter to these individuals should embrace caution, especially with the current security situation in the country and the West African sub-region at large.”

    The source said the manner in which the asylum seekers camped outside the office led to a collaborative effort by NCFRMI, UNHCR, LASEMA, the police and other partner agencies to seek a speedy resolution in line with international best practices and to prevent a diplomatic row.

    It was learnt that the NCFRMI will send an Eligibility Committee this week to conduct the interviews with them and determine who will remain in Nigeria and who will not.

    The source said: “They are claiming persecution; we don’t know who is persecuting them where they came from. But, as far as we know, there is no instability in Togo or Benin Republic where they have lived for 10 years.

    “For reasons best known to them, they decided to shift base and come to Nigeria. When they are interviewed we may be able to determine why they came to Nigeria.

    “Those who carried the story should have asked them why they did not get refugee status in Benin Republic having been there for 10 years. An attestation is not valid for 10 years. It is valid for a period, after which the government meets to determine their status. Does it mean the Benin Republic government never met?

    “When they were here for two and a half weeks or so, they were living in the compound. The UNHCR was initially feeding them, until it was discovered that they were calling their people and more and more of them were coming.

    “Are they claiming to be stateless? If you look at the picture published yesterday, you will see that some of the children must have been born in Benin Republic, which entitles them to citizenship. Why can’t they regularise their stay there?”