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Isa Muazu 'in UK after flight turned back from Nigeria' | Isa Muazu 'in UK after flight turned back from Nigeria' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Nigerian man said to be "near death" following a hunger strike is back in the UK after the Home Office flight deporting him had to turn around. | A Nigerian man said to be "near death" following a hunger strike is back in the UK after the Home Office flight deporting him had to turn around. |
Lawyers for Isa Muazu, who has refused food for "over 100 days", said he had returned to the medical wing at Harmondsworth detention centre. | |
It is thought the Nigerian authorities did not clear the plane to land. | It is thought the Nigerian authorities did not clear the plane to land. |
Mr Muazu had sought asylum in the UK claiming he would be killed by Islamic extremists if returned to Nigeria. | |
The Home Office rejects his arguments and attempted to deport the 45-year-old on Friday after he lost a series of legal challenges. | The Home Office rejects his arguments and attempted to deport the 45-year-old on Friday after he lost a series of legal challenges. |
The privately-chartered jet carrying Mr Muazu was in the air for a number of hours, but it is believed the Nigerian authorities did not give the pilot landing rights. It is unclear why. | |
The plane is thought to have stopped in Malta for two hours before returning to the UK. | The plane is thought to have stopped in Malta for two hours before returning to the UK. |
The Home Office refused to comment on the latest developments, but it is understood officials are working with the Nigerian government to try to secure Mr Muazu's removal. | |
Hunger strike | |
He has been held in detention since he claimed asylum in July, saying he faced persecution from the hardline Islamic group Boko Haram. | He has been held in detention since he claimed asylum in July, saying he faced persecution from the hardline Islamic group Boko Haram. |
Mr Muazu entered the country on a visitor's visa in July 2007 and stayed without permission after it expired in January 2008. | |
It is believed he then found work in south-east London and was detained on the day he claimed asylum, 25 July this year. | |
Duncan Lewis Solicitors, representing Mr Muazu, said his case was then fast-tracked and his application was rejected in August. | |
They said he had made himself "seriously ill" in his protest, adding: "His hunger strike lasted for over 100 days". | |
A claim that his detention was unlawful was rejected by the Court of Appeal on 25 November, and two further last-minute appeals were also refused, his lawyers said. | |
Lord Roberts, a Lib Dem peer, told the Observer newspaper he had seen Mr Muazu on Tuesday "when a doctor had judged him too ill to fly". | |
"Goodness knows what state he must be in now, the poor man," the peer said. "He needs hospital treatment. | "Goodness knows what state he must be in now, the poor man," the peer said. "He needs hospital treatment. |
"[Home Secretary Theresa May] has caused immense harm to one individual and spent an extraordinary amount of taxpayers' money. | "[Home Secretary Theresa May] has caused immense harm to one individual and spent an extraordinary amount of taxpayers' money. |
"I hope there will be no question of sending this poor man away again." | "I hope there will be no question of sending this poor man away again." |
The paper says when the plane landed he was "was taken off by stretcher". | The paper says when the plane landed he was "was taken off by stretcher". |
The Nigerian is 5ft 11in (1.8m) tall, weighs eight stone (53kg) and has described himself as "looking like a skeleton", his lawyers have said. | |
He has said that he came to the UK "for a better life" and would "rather die" than face removal. | He has said that he came to the UK "for a better life" and would "rather die" than face removal. |