http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14918647
Nigerian
passport fraudster jailed for nine months. Ayoola was
arrested by Border Agency officers. A 32-year-old Nigerian man who had been
living in Northern Ireland after entering the UK on a false passport has been
jailed for nine months.
Collins Kola
Ayoola pleaded guilty to fraud at Downpatrick Crown Court on Wednesday.
He was
living in Belfast when UK Border Agency officers arrested him in 2009.
Ayoola was
held for using a false passport to obtain an electoral card, open a number of
bank accounts and register a business.
He was
sentenced to nine months for three counts of possession of false identity
cards, namely a false Nigerian passport, possession of false documents and
seeking leave to remain in the UK by deception.
Earl Aiken,
senior investigator for the UK Border Agency in Northern Ireland, said:
"The UK Border Agency is intensifying enforcement activity to tackle
immigration crime and bring individuals to justice”.
"We are
determined to create a hostile environment which makes it harder than ever for
illegal immigrants to come to the UK and put down roots.
"We
hope this sentence will send the message that we will find and prosecute anyone
who attempts to commit this type of fraud." 14 September 2011 by BBC
Northern Ireland News.
Migration of
our youths from Nigeria, seeking another life in the West can be categorised
into the following:
1. Some are
been forced out by our government due to the fact that they cannot see future
in living in Nigeria. (Economic – labour, wages); (illegal migration –
violation of the migrating laws and soverenity of another nation).
2. Self -
desire either to study, to just migrate, work, new found life, family, etc.
(change of residence).
3. Some that
were been deceived/conned by friends/family and colleagues painting a very rosy
and comfortable environment.
The first
categories are the ones forced out due to the condition on the ground in
Nigeria. A lot of our citizens have terrible experiences,- crossing the
deserts, some crossing to live in other countries, some even cross three or
more countries before reaching their final destination, some cross oceans to
make it to the West. Some put themselves through lots of life threatening
conditions to finally reach their final destinations.
This is so
sad indeed. The fault can not only be attributed to them but a system not
working in our beloved country Nigeria. The reason been that our country amidst
millions/billions of dollars, mineral resources fails to provide and plan for
our future generations living them to the mercy of God. Most of them have been
given the bible to read from morning till evening. Thereby making them some of
the unproductive work-force in our country Nigeria.
Some of our
youths are intellectuals, graduates turned refugees in a foreign soil. Some are
with masters degree turned cleaners in a foreign land. Some of them have to go
into large debts or sell their family properties to make it to the foreign
land.
Our rulers
care less about its citizens. I still find it difficult to imagine the politics
of inhuman face which they play back in my country. They have let us down and
the country down. They have also let down our fellow Africans that are so eager
to emulate Nigeria, so also the worldwide black community that is looking at
Nigeria to change for the better, so that they can be so proud of us. SAD!
The second
categories are people that have a gainful employment abroad which they call the
highly skilled workers scheme. They are enticed with good salaries to abandon
their country for foreign land. Who can blame them, when in their country of
origin they are not been valued? Some for educational purposes. Most of them do
not come back to Nigeria because after finishing their studies, they are easily
enticed with good salaries. Better than what they could earn in Nigeria with
comfortable life conditions – uninterrupted electricity, good medical
condition, good infrastructures and good roads and a host of others.
The third
categories are the ones that are conned believing the Western world is a
paradise. Yes, a true statement because you cannot compare what we have on the
ground for the masses in Nigeria with what the masses enjoy in the Western
world.
In London:
I was in a
double Decker bus one day, sitting in the upper deck of the bus. I sat down at
the back of a fellow Nigerian young chap, who I think did not know I am also a
Nigerian and also from his tribe – YORUBA. The telephone rang, it was from
Nigeria. After the exchange of greetings from both of them, they engaged in
some talk. This young chap sitting in front of me told his colleague:
Sorry, I
cannot continue talking because the police are at my back and watching. Am not
supposed to be talking on the mobile while driving. “This is correct”. My new
car is the sort of one the police put much attention. So when I get home I will
call you. I guessed we are soon approaching a bus stop and the driver will
announce the name of the bus stop, so he was very wise to think forward so that
the chap did not realise he is in a bus. Actually he left the bus at the next
stop. I could not help myself as I busted into laughter. He gave me a dirty
look as he understood I am a Nigerian and I understood all what he was saying.
Can you
imagine what this young chap did? Deceiving his friend to believing everything
is so rosy in London. I will advise our fellow youths that engage in this kind
of attitude to put a stop to this. This is about somebody’s life to be put in
jeopardy. Why on earth will somebody want to portray what does not exist, is it
ego? Ignorance or wickedness?
Let me use
this medium to advice our young ones that the whole of Europe, America has
changed drastically. When you visit these countries, come here legally. Before
you are employed now, most of the employers now want to be sure that you are
legally qualified to work before employing you hence they themselves will face
stiff penalties - they will ask from you all the necessary documents and if you
come as a student, you cannot work more than like 20 hours a week which is
nothing compared to how much to pay for your housing, transport, feeding,
mobile phones etc.
Apart from
that, the constant police fears can send one crazy and sick. If you work more
than the required hours, your stay might not be extended as most schools work
hand in hand with the immigration services.
With the
introduction of the finger prints things have now been so difficult. What about
if you have a life threatening medical attention. They might give you a first
aid treatment, but immediately they know you don’t have your papers in the right
way. The treatment will be stopped unless you can prove that you will be able
to support your bill financially.
For example
I was in the same ward one day, with a fellow Nigerian who has a life
threatening disease. He was initially treated but when they knew/realised, he
had none of his papers right. He was discharged though on humanitarian ground
he was given like two weeks medical supply. I felt so sad for this my
compatriot as his sickness was life threatening.
I believe
that our politicians have to do the right thing for our youths so that they are
not subjected to wondering all over the world aimlessly; they should be
accountable to the people that voted them in; plan for our future generations
to come;’
Our people
should without fear and determination demand an end to corruption and all other
social ills that is bringing Nigeria backward.
They should
demand good governance from their elected officers.
Nigeria
should invest more in a good qualitative education, educational infrastructures
to train our youths for the programme of rebuilding our great country Nigeria.
We are
hoping for the best and pray that all will be well, so that Nigerians do not
continue to suffer in the midst of plenty.
JOIN US AT
THE NIGERIAN GLOBAL AWAKENING PROTEST GROUP PAGE ON FACEBOOK FOR THE GLOBAL
PROTEST ON THE 23RD OF JUNE, 2012.
WE WANT AN
END TO CORRUPTION AND ALL THE SOCIAL ILLS THAT IS NOT ALLOWING US TO
DEVELOP/PROGRESS OUR POTENTIALS AS A THRIVING NATION.
BE PART OF
US; PLEASE ADD/INVITE YOUR COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND FAMILILIES TO THIS NOBLE
CAUSE.
PLEASE JOIN
US ALSO ON FACEBOOK:
LET US JOIN
HANDS TOGETHER AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR COUNTRY - NIGERIA. IT IS ABOUT US
COLLECTIVELY AS A NATION REJECTING WHAT IS HAMPERING OUR DEVELOPMENT AS A
FUNCTIONING COUNTRY.
TOGETHER WE
CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. YES WE CAN.
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