By Biodun Busari
A judge sitting at the Upper Tribunal in the United Kingdom, Priya Solanki, has rejected the deportation of a Nigerian who was jailed for a fake driving licence fraud.
British media outlet, The Telegraph, reported that Tunde Alao, who relocated to the UK in 2004 or 2005, spent two years and seven months in prison for fraud.
The Home Office planned his deportation after he completed his jail term, but the judge blocked the move, insisting that he was not “a serious threat” to British society.
Alao had lived in the UK illegally and applied for leave to remain under the European Union Settlement Scheme in August 2020 and was granted limited leave to remain in February 2021.
“In June 2022, he was convicted of conspiracy to defraud for the production of fake driving licences between 2019 and January 2022,” the report stated.
The fraud was unsuccessful, but he would have generated a great deal of money had it worked, the court was told.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed for 31 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £149 before being released from jail in August 2023.
“Alao appealed against attempts by the Home Office to deport him after his release from jail. He said he had not committed offences since the conviction, and had attended courses to address his behaviour.
Since October 2023, the Nigerian has engaged in part-time work as an office assistant and client co-ordinator with the same employer.
His boss also defended him in court, adding that Alao had demonstrated good conduct and should remain in the UK.
“Mr Alao has been a highly valued member of our team since October 1st 2023, and I believe that it is in the best interest of both our business and the community for him to remain in the UK.
“In addition to his professional contributions, Mr Alao has integrated well into UK society, building strong relationships with his colleagues and actively participating in community events. His presence in the UK is not only beneficial for our business, but also for the broader community in which he lives and works,” his boss said.
Ruling on the case, Solanki said she was not satisfied that Alao’s personal conduct represented a serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests in the UK.
“Mr Alao’s re-conviction calculation is six per cent within one year and 12 per cent within two years. This is within the low range. This risk could be reduced if Mr Alao engages with interventions focused on addressing the identified criminogenic and offence-triggering behaviour,” she added.
