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Diocesan medal-winner loses deportation appeal

by
06 February 2008

by Bill Bowder.

A 19-YEAR-OLD immigrant, who was honoured this week for his contribution to society, has lost his appeal against deportation to Nigeria (News, 14 September and 23 November 2007)

Damilola Ajagbonna was awarded the Mellitus medal for his contribution to Greig City Academy, a C of E secondary school in north London, where he had been head boy. The presentation was made in St Paul’s Cathedral by the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, on Monday.

  Mr Ajagbonna, who has 13 GCSEs and three A levels, and has been offered places at Cambridge and Sheffield Universities, said that he was bitterly disappointed after the Court of Appeal turned down his final appeal on Tuesday. Mrs Justice Dobbs ruled that she could find no error in law in the decision to refuse him further leave to remain. There could be no further appeal, she said.

Mr Ajagbonna, who arrived in the UK with his mother in May 1999, had been unofficially adopted by his aunt, a British citizen.

The Bishop said he hoped Mr Ajagbonna could stay, after helping so many others to achieve their potential.

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