"Speaking from the centre, Bola told the Evening
Chronicle: “I feel safe in Gateshead, but we have no one in Nigeria. Rafeeq was
born here, he goes to school here and is doing well, it is so very hard for us.
There are so many kidnappings and frightening things with Boko Haram happening
in Nigeria, it would not be safe.”
Fighting back tears, Bola, 30, told how she had first
come to the UK following the death of her parents and brothers and sisters in a
car tragedy in Nigeria in 1997.
She said: “It was so hard but I thought I’d have a better
life here and we have made a lot of friends in Gateshead.”
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns contacted the Home Office on
Wednesday, requesting a barrier be placed on the planned deportation, citing
concerns over Rafeeq’s health.
He received a response stating: “We are aware of the
health issues regarding this family and have been working with various services
to ensure the family’s needs are met during removal. “It is considered there
are no grounds to place a barrier on this removal at this time.”
He said: “I understand that the family are desperately
trying to put together the evidence to submit a fresh application to remain.
Surely time should be given for that application to be made and considered.”
More than 5,500 people have now added their names to a
petition launched earlier this week asking for the Government to reconsider
deporting the little boy.
Family friend Kath Hayward, who started the petition,
said: “We’ve had so many people sign up since Wednesday. We are only hoping
this will now do some good.
“We would urge more people to get involved. We have heard
from Bola’s solicitor and everything that can be done to help, is now being
done.”
Bola said: “We just got taken and put into a car. We were
not allowed to take any of our possessions.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “Bola Fatumbi was first
told in 2007 that she had no right to be in the UK. Later that year she was
jailed for nine months for possession of a false document, which she used to
illegally obtain employment in the UK.
“She subsequently applied for asylum. This claim was
refused, the decision backed up by an independent judge who found her claims
not to be credible.
“Every claim is carefully considered and where there is a
genuine need of protection asylum will be granted.
“We provide help and support to those found not to have
the right to remain in the UK in returning to their own country. If they refuse
to engage with this process we will enforce removal."
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