The United Kingdom has threatened to deport a physically-challenged Nigerian, Anthony Olubunmi George, after living in the country for over 38 years.

The threat to deport George, 61, came after officials said they discovered he had come into the country with a forged entry stamp in his passport after he left Nigeria at the age of 24 in 1986.

The Guardian UK reports that though the Nigerian has no criminal convictions, he had also made several applications for leave to remain in the UK, which the Home Office has rejected, most recently on 7 May.

“When George arrived, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister and Rishi Sunak is the ninth to hold office since George has lived in the UK,” a report in another British tabloid said.

“He has endured many periods of homelessness and disclosed he has lost count of the number of friends who have given him shelter over the years, adding that he no longer has any close family in Nigeria.

“In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a forged entry stamp in his passport and have subsequently been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.”

George reportedly told the Guardian he knew nothing about the passport stamp until many years later, while his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, cited his poor previous legal representation as the reason for George’s problems, and has lodged an appeal against the latest refusal.

“In his most recent refusal, Home Office officials said: “Unfortunately this is not something that is considered an exceptional circumstance.”

A previous Home Office rejection of his case states: “It’s open to your family and friends to visit you in Nigeria,” he noted.

While speaking on his situation, George said:

“I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”

George’s case, according to the report, is the second of such in recent weeks involving Africans facing a huge disappointment with the UK Home Office after spending several years in Britain.

Only last week, a 74-year-old Ghanaian, Nelson Shardey, who has resided in the UK since 1977, was refused “indefinite leave to remain despite being in the country for most of his adult life,” the report said.

Shardey who has never left the UK and has no criminal convictions, is said to have suffered two strokes which left him with problems with speech and mobility in 2019, but that has not deterred the UK from going through with the process of deporting him.

The church in Northern Province has issued a warning to Zambians regarding the misuse of cyberspace in the guise of human rights and media freedoms.

Bishop Elias Mponela, the Regional Coordinator of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), highlighted a concerning trend of cyberspace abuse among some Zambians during an interview with Zambia Monitor in Kasama District.

While acknowledging that every Zambian is entitled to human rights, Bishop Mponela stated the importance of not abusing these rights.

He stressed that Cyber Security Act, though beneficial, would be enforced without exceptions, regardless of one’s societal status.

“The Cyber Security Act is a necessary measure that must be implemented promptly, but with care to ensure that individuals’ rights are respected,” Mponela commented.

He expressed concern over the misuse of cyberspace by prominent figures, particularly politicians, who spread messages of hatred and division.

Mponela urged authorities to address such behavior before it escalated.

Highlighting the significance of a free media, Mponela underscored the importance of journalists operating in a conducive environment without fear of reprisal from those in power.

“Access to information is vital in today’s world, and those in authority must ensure it is guaranteed to foster an informed society,” he stated.

However, Mponela cautioned against media outlets abusing their freedom by disseminating misleading information or promoting divisiveness.

The church’s stance reflects a call for responsible use of cyberspace and a balanced approach to ensuring both freedom and accountability in media practices.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.