Attitude’s article published this afternoon reports on the Home Office decision on 1 August to grant Aderonke Apata asylum. Aderonke arrived in the UK in May 2004, fleeing persecution in Nigeria and today marks the end of her 13-year battle.
The Court of Appeal last year dismissed her appeal, but unusually granted a stay on removal so she could lodge a fresh claim for asylum based on her sexual identity as a lesbian. The Home Office maintained their decision not to revoke a deportation order but did grant her an in-country right of appeal in October 2016. The Home Office were granted an adjournment to the 24 July 2017 hearing, to consider evidence including updated statements and evidence of Aderonke’s international profile as a lesbian Nigerian gay rights activist. 11 witnesses were due to attend the hearing including the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Barker and the human rights activist Peter Tatchell.
Speaking about her success Aderonke said “Chelvan, Sean, Jessica and Jennifer – amazing people who fought persistently to get me my freedom”
Link to the Attitude article: http://attitude.co.uk/attitude-pride-award-winner-wins-asylum-bid-to-stay-in-the-uk/
Link to Court of Appeal judgment (July 2016): http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2016/802.html
Link to Administrative Court judgment (March 2015): http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2015/888.html
S. Chelvan led Jessica Smeaton and Jennifer Blair for the Court of Appeal proceedings.
S. Chelvan represented Aderonke in the fresh claim and First-tier Tribunal proceedings (2016-17).
Sean McLoughlin of TRP Solicitors is the instructing solicitor.
