A Nigerian, Isaac Aganozor, who works with a top school in England has pleaded with the UK home office to allow his brother passage into the UK to save his life.
Isaac was diagnosed with Leukemia last year and is in desperate need of stem cell transplant which can be provided for him by his brother Patrick who lives in Nigeria, only one thing stands in their way– the UK Government.
Patrick works as a keke Napep operator in Nigeria and therefore doesn’t come within the economic sphere of those allowed entry into the UK.
Patrick earns £2.30 a day and on account of this was refused a visa to enter the UK as he did not meet economic requirements.
Isaac’s school (Dulwich College) had offered to sponsor his month-long “mercy mission” and pay £1,500 for his return flight but the British home office don’t seem interested in this.
Isaac has been told by St Bartholomew hospital that his time is running out and if he doesn’t get a transplant soon then his future is very grim indeed. Patrick is the only realistic chance his brother has as he is a 50% match and is the only person who can get him the stem cells he needs in time.
The rejection letter from the British High Commission in Lagos, According to the Standard, reads: “You have stated your brother has acute myeloid leukaemia and you are to be a stem cell donor. I must take into account your personal socio-economic circumstances in Nigeria when reaching my decision. I note that you are a tricycle driver earning £69 a month in Nigeria but you state you have £1,500 for this trip.
“Given your limited economic circumstances in Nigeria I am not satisfied that these provide you with an incentive to leave the UK at the end of your stay as claimed.”
Isaac has claimed that his brother Patrick has no inclination to stay behind as he has a 4 year old daughter and an ailing mother to care for in Nigeria.
Isaac had this to say and the situation,“I was so happy when I found out that my brother was a match. But when his application was rejected it was a bigger shock than getting told I had leukaemia in the first place. The immigration officers didn’t consider my health, only economics. It is incredibly frustrating to know that the solution that could save my life is only six hours away by plane. I feel the sickness inside me, I don’t know what to do. My life is gradually slipping away.”
A colleague of Isaac, Simon Yield who is the chief operating officer at Dulwich College said:
“Isaac is a quietly spoken, hard-working man who gets on with his job incredibly well. I’m appalled by the Home Office’s decision.
“It is essentially because Patrick is a poor man that he can’t come across to do the only thing he wants to do — save his brother’s life.
“I understand the concerns around immigration and people who want to take advantage of our system, but Patrick wants to go back to his family in Nigeria straight after the operation.
“Nigeria was part of the Commonwealth yet we don’t allow an individual in on humanitarian grounds for a mercy mission — it is disgusting.”
To aid Isaac’s predicament, Helen Hayes, the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, has held discussions with immigration minister James Brokenshire.
From all indications, a priority appeal for a new visa is necessary and this would involve specialist immigration lawyers.
Hayes said,“I’m appalled that the Home Office is showing so little flexibility and compassion.
“I am doing everything possible to press the Home Office to consider the new application as a matter of urgency, so that Patrick can travel before Isaac’s health deteriorates further.”
The home office on their part have tried to explain their stance saying “All cases are carefully considered on their individual merits and the onus is on the individual to provide the necessary supporting evidence to meet the UK immigration rules. We are sensitive to cases with compassionate circumstances but all visa applications must be assessed against the immigration rules. The applicant is free to submit a new application with supporting evidence.”