A 32-year-old migrant in South East London avoided deportation after the Home Office took over six years to process his case, with a judge citing the delay as unjustified.
Knife-Wielding Migrant Avoids Deportation After Long Wait
A knife-wielding migrant avoided deportation because officials took too long to act. Olajide Shinaba, 32, was allowed to stay after the Home Office took more than six years to decide on his case.
Shinaba, a father of four, was labeled a “persistent offender” by prosecutors. He entered the UK from Nigeria at age ten and suffered a fractured skull at age 15. He applied for indefinite leave to remain in 2017.
In 2018, he lunged with a knife at a woman who had taken him in while he was homeless. He was sentenced to 11 months in jail.
After his release, it took another four years to process his application, even though he was a Foreign National Offender. A refusal notice was finally issued in 2023. However, Shinaba, who lives in South East London, appealed under European Court of Human Rights rules.
Asylum judge Luke Bulpitt criticized the Home Office for the “unexplained” delay and ruled he had no choice but to allow the appeal. Shinaba’s four children are British, and he claimed he could not care for them from Africa.
The judge acknowledged that Shinaba would struggle to integrate, as he considered himself a “Londoner.” The Home Office stated, “We are reforming human rights laws.”
Summary of Key Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Olajide Shinaba |
| Age | 32 |
| Origin | Nigeria |
| Entry Age | 10 |
| Fractured Skull Age | 15 |
| Application Year | 2017 |
| Knife Incident Year | 2018 |
| Jail Sentence | 11 months |
| Processing Time | 4 years |
| Refusal Notice Year | 2023 |
| Judge | Luke Bulpitt |
| Children’s Nationality | British |
