Parliamentary Ombudsman To Examine Eze’s Case

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has asked for further documentation regarding the deportation of Nigerian asylum seeker Eze Okafor.

MBL reports that what has drawn the Ombudsman’s attention in particular is the fact that Eze had filed a request to remain in Iceland while he was appealing his case for asylum for humanitarian reasons.

Icelandic law allows those applying for asylum on humanitarian grounds to remain in the country while their case is being appealed and examined if they have been in the country for at least two years. Eze had been in Iceland for four years at the time he filed this request, but the Immigration Appeals board rejected it. The Ombudsman is now asking to see the documentation that justified this decision.

This is not the first time the Ombudsman has gotten involved in decisions made by the Directorate of Immigration (UTL). Last December, the Ombudsman asked UTL to justify deporting two Albanian families, both of whom have chronically ill children.

As reported, Eze is currently still in Sweden, where he faces deportation to Nigeria. Eze originally fled his home country after facing persecution by Boko Haram. The terrorist group is reportedly following his case very closely, and are in all likelihood awaiting his return.