Deportation threat turns dreams into a nightmare

PERFECT couple . . . but Victor and Robyn have been forced apart

A HEAVILY pregnant Oldham woman is fighting for her husband to be allowed to stay in the UK.

Oldhamer Robyn Daodu (27) has been in tears since Monday when her husband Victor (25) was taken to a detention centre in Scotland without warning. Boxer Victor, from Nigeria, originally came to England to compete in the London Olympics. While here he applied to join the Army before returning to Nigeria after the games.

He was invited back for an interview that August and asked to remain in the UK until his successful application was completed. He met Robyn and they moved in together - but the couple’s dream future turned into a nightmare in July 2013.

The Army told Victor a change in the law during his waiting time prevented it from accepting anyone who hasn’t had a British passport for at least four years.

Robyn added: “We began the appeals system for Victor to remain, and contacted the Home Office to see if we could get married, since this was what we had been planning. The Home Office said we could go ahead with the marriage and we assumed his residency wouldn’t be a problem. We were wrong.”

The couple married in April last year, and three months later Victor discovered his appeal had been refused meaning he faces deportation.

In April this year Victor was taken to an immigration removal centre in Scotland, but released after an appeal two weeks later. He must now sign a register in Salford every week.

This week he was detained at the centre again and taken back to Scotland - as Robyn waited outside, unaware of what was happening.

Robyn said: “We wouldn’t have got married if there was a chance this could happen. I’ve been advised by the Home Office I could live in Nigeria, but our lives are here.

“I feel like they are questioning our relationship. It’s my first baby: you are supposed to enjoy pregnancy and enjoy marriage, but so far it has been awful.”

The Home Office has refused to comment on Victor’s situation

Victor boxes at Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre — run by Eric Noi, who said: “Victor’s a great guy, does everything by the book and it seems as though he might be an easy target.”

Robyn has now started a petition to keep Victor in the country. More than 270 people have already signed.

Sign it at www.change.org/p/the-home-office-please-please-sign-our-petition-for-victor-daodu-to-remain-in-the-uk-in-order-to-support-robyn-his-wife-and-cyrus-their-unborn-child.

twitter: @AlexCareyOC