JACK MUST STAY!

Jack Monday Ikegwu came to the UK in February 2006 fleeing persecution for homosexual activity in Nigeria. He applied for asylum, but was immediately put in immigration detention, even though he was under 18 years old. At the time Jack was unable to prove his age or the facts of his story and his asylum claim was refused. After 11 months in detention, Jack was granted bail on the strength of a report from a medical expert from the Helen Bamber Foundation, which provided evidence that Jack has scars and other injuries consistent with his experience of torture. After being granted temporary admission from detention in January, Jack’s solicitor was in the process of submitting a Fresh Claim for Asylum when Jack was re-arrested on Wednesday 19th April. His deportation was stopped last minute and he now awaits the outcome of the Fresh Claim. He has again been released from detention on temporary admission because of his experiences of torture in Nigeria.

According to the law, religion and culture in Nigeria, homosexuality is strongly criminalised. Homosexuality is outlawed in the Nigerian penal code and Muslim law. However, in northern states under Muslim law the punishment can be death; in the civil penal code homosexuality can carry up to a 14-year prison sentence. A new law forbids same-sex marriage and prohibits gay people from assembling and petitioning the government. It also allows prosecution of newspapers that publish information about same-sex relationships and religious groups that allow same-sex unions. Those who violate this law can be sentenced to five years in prison.

Jack had a relationship with the son of a local chief. On learning of this relationship, the family of his lover threatened to have him killed. They also went to the police, who issued a warrant for Jack’s arrest for homosexual activity and widely publicised this in Jack’s home area. The police came to Jack’s house looking for him.

Jack went into hiding, but was discovered by a group of men who recognised him. He was abducted and severely beaten and tortured for several hours. The men left Jack for dead, but having survived this ordeal, he sought to escape Nigeria with the help of other gay friends.

Jack’s solicitor has obtained an authenticated copy of Jack’s arrest warrant from the Nigerian authorities. Together with the expert medical report and other supporting materials this forms substantial new evidence that has not yet been considered by the Home Office.

Since his first temporary release in January, Jack has been active in fighting for and supporting migrants and asylum seekers in the UK, and continues to do so. Help support Jack to ensure that he is granted asylum and is not sent back to a country where he has been criminalised for being gay and faces arrest, torture and maybe even death.