In 2009, Roseline underwent a kidney transplant which turned out to be successful. However, her claim to remain in the UK has been rejected by the UK border Agency. If she is deported to Nigeria, Roseline believes it will be difficult for her to afford the cost of immunosuppressant drugs and her constant visit to the hospital for check-ups.
Akhalu won her appeal for the right to remain in the UK as the presiding judge determined her case was “unusual” and deporting her will go against article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights which provides her with the right to private and family life.
Contented with the judgement, Akhalu expressed her joy with the following statement, “I am very pleased and relieved by the judgment. I would like to say I am immensely grateful to all who have helped me in this struggle to get Indefinite Leave to Remain.”
“We are delighted by this ruling. Roseline is a respected and very popular member of her community and is an asset to this country. The Home Secretary’s decision that Roseline should be deported to Nigeria where she would die within four weeks was unlawful and inhumane and has rightly been overturned,” said, Tess Gregory, the solicitor to Roseline Akhalu.
Roseline’s campaign for the right to remain in the UK was supported local politicians in Leeds, church leaders as well as Colin Firth, the British acting legend.
Unfortunately for her, the UK Border is unsatisfied with the court decision and according to one of their spokesperson, “We are extremely disappointed with the court’s decision. We are reviewing the case in light of the decision.”
The Nigerian is now facing a fresh challenge as the UK border agency on January 4, 2013 appealed the decision of the court to allow Roseline to stay in the UK. She now has to go through another lengthy legal hurdles to determine if she would be allowed to stay in UK.
Source: The Guardian UK and the UK Border Agency