Victor came to the UK because he had been the victim of threats, intimidation, and aggression from members of a Nigerian student cult who pursued him wherever he lived. Student cults are a menace in Nigeria and Country reports refer to them as lawless and violent gangs, who use a variety of persistent techniques to coerce membership. Victor did not want to join the cult, and several times tried to evade them by moving to different parts of the country. Even in the UK, Victor says that he has been pursued as his phone number became known. They have been known to torture, brutalize and murder anyone resisting their attempts to join or who betray them.

Victor is a musician and has been settled in Nottingham. He has been in a relationship with his partner Monica, since 2006. Monica is a Nigerian national with Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Victor is a Nigerian drummer and session muscian who travels around the UK giving performances. It was while in Manchester for a performance that Victor has been detained. He has been detained for eleven months.

What has happened has been like a Kafkaesque scenario for the couple. Monica was expecting their first child and when she was four months pregnant, Victor was detained whilst in Manchester preparing to give a performance Their baby girl was born in April without her father at her Mothers side to greet their new child.

Victor has remained in detention since. He has only seen his daughter at visiting time in the detention centre.He has already had one removal notice served, but he was not placed on the flight because of an intervention by his, then, solicitor. However, his Immigration case owner reported this as “refusal to fly”.

Because Monica and Victor were not married, Monica was not able to put Victors' family name on the birth certificate ( although she did make it the baby's middle name) - the Home Office alleged this was evidence that the child was not Victors. Both Victor and Monica have had DNA tests to prove paternity. Monica has approached the Registry Office in Nottingham to Re Register baby Denise but has been told that both parents will need legal representation in addition to the DNA evidence. Due to a mistake by his Immigration advisor, the Home Office stated that Monica and Victor were “estranged”. The Immigration advisor then wrote a letter to the Home Office stating that this was an error ,but it was too late. The Home Office are insisting that there is no evidence of family life in the UK. Being apart, and the risk of imposed separation is causing the family extreme anguish.

Under new legislation (HC321) he will not be able to return for at least five years, unless they are able to bring forward their marriage plans ( which they are not permitted to do), or Monica - who is the Mother of a young baby only seven months old, is able to save money and find a safe place to visit him.

The UK Government are making it almost impossible for this young family to be together. After two years, bringing a child into their family, they are now no longer permitted to be together. It seems as if every hurdle is put in their way. Even today, Monica is trying to hurry the Register Office in Nottingham to release a form available at every Register Office, to send to Victor so that he can sign if he can find a legal representative.. However, the Nottingham Registry Office is insisting that they must post the form to Victor, as they say they are not permitted to fax it. Monica has urged them, as there is no time left, but the bureaucratic wheels turn slowly.

What you can do to help!

All day today Friday 7th November:
1.) Please fax/phone/email, Conrad Clifford, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Nigeria Airways, asking that Virgin Nigeria should not facilitate Home Office enforcement policies, attached "model letter" (VictorJS.doc) you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do so, please remember to include the following details:  Oladipo Victor Aiyegbayo due to be forcibly removed from the UK today Friday 7th November @ 22.20 on Virgin Nigeria Airways flight VS651 from London Heathrow to Nigeria.

Fax: 01293 448035 - from outside the UK + 44 1293 448035

Phone: General numbers at Virgin Nigeria @ Gatwick:
0870 403 1212 0844 412 1788
Email:  customer.relations@virginnigeria.com

2.) Please send urgent faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Victor is not separated from his family and that he is granted protection in the UK. Attached updated "model letter" VictorJS.doc you can copy/amend/write your own version (if you do so, please remember to include the HO ref A1363001).

Fax: 020 8760 3132 (00 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)


Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent to Jacqui Smith or VN


Keep Victor In The UK Campaign
 keepvictorintheuk@googlemail.com