A 49-year-old Nigerian woman, who was previously denied asylum in the UK eight times, has finally been granted the right to stay after joining the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)—a group classified as a terrorist organization in Nigeria but not in the UK.
Asylum Strategy and Tribunal Ruling
According to Judge Iain Burnett, the woman admitted to joining IPOB solely to strengthen her asylum claim. She first arrived in the UK in 2011 but only became involved with IPOB in 2017.
While a lower tribunal initially rejected her claim due to insufficient evidence of her involvement, UK upper tribunal judge Gemma Loughran overturned the decision, stating that the Nigerian government arbitrarily arrests, detains, and harms those suspected of IPOB links, regardless of their actual level of involvement.
Political Reactions & Controversy
The ruling has sparked criticism, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip calling it a “comically ludicrous” interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The decision comes amid growing concerns over the UK’s asylum system. Recently, a controversial tribunal ruling allowed a Palestinian family from Gaza to enter the UK despite applying under the Ukraine Family Scheme. Critics argue that such rulings could set a precedent, potentially opening the floodgates for asylum seekers from conflict zones.
As the debate over asylum policies intensifies, the UK government is reportedly considering legal reforms to prevent similar cases in the future.
