Official allegedly changed details in Nigerian’s refugee application

THE alleged conduct of a Home Affairs official believed to have changed the version of a Nigerian citizen in his application for refugee status has been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for investigation and possible prosecution.

The Johannesburg High Court last month ordered that the NPA establish whether the official lied about the facts which were given to him by the Nigerian national, only identified as EL to safeguard him from possible persecution.

EL told the court via his lawyers that he had fled Nigeria as he feared political persecution in his country.

This version was allegedly changed by an officer at the refugee centre, who was said to have written on the application form that EL said he actually came to seek greener pastures in South Africa, where he wanted to follow his dream by opening a barber shop.

EL was detained at the Lindela Repatriation Centre as the department found he was illegally in the country. He was due to be deported back to Nigeria. He, however, turned to the court to be released from Lindela in a bid to apply for asylum status himself.

He said he left his country under circumstances where his life was at risk. He was a former member of the now terror-fomenting Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, known as Mend.

EL said he tried on several occasions to obtain documents from the refugee office, but he was sent home without anyone assisting him.

He was subsequently arrested and detained at the Lindela Repatriation camp.

Home Affairs told the court that EL’s reasons for wanting to come to South Africa were not true and that the refugee office did consider his reasons, which were contained in a report.

The officer wrote in the report that EL claimed not to be involved in politics and that nothing would happen to him if he returned to Nigeria, but he simply preferred to stay here. Hence, Home Affairs concluded there was no reason to grant him asylum status.

It emerged that EL was taken from Lindela after his arrest to a refugee office to apply for asylum.

When he arrived in Pretoria he was told by the officer that he was a trouble maker and under no circumstances would he be released.

He claimed that while he told them his life was in danger, the facts were changed on his application.

Judge Margie Victor, however, frowned upon the department’s version and questioned why EL would change his story while he knew it would see him being deported.

The judge said that “it is reprehensible” if the officer did indeed change the applicant’s version and that the NPA must investigate this.