Scottish Catholic Observer

Parishioners at St Michael’s Parish in Parkhead will make a final protest at the UK Border Agency’s offices in Glasgow tomorrow in the hopes of gaining a last minute reprieve for a Nigerian parishioner who faces deportation.

John Oguchukwu, 34, fled to Britain from Nigeria and claimed asylum here nine years ago after his parents and sister were killed and he was tortured by a ritualistic cult. The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has decided to return him to Africa tomorrow to the distress of parishioners who have been campaigning to keep him here.

Speaking from Colnbrook detention centre in Middlesex, a frightened Mr Oguchukwu told the SCO: “I left Nigeria for good, I can’t go back.”

Mr Oguchukwu has been a special minister at St Michael’s parish and is currently a senior honours student at Glasgow University. His parish priest Fr Francis Kennedy, Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, fellow university students, faculty members and Glasgow University rector Charles Kennedy MP have joined the campaign to keep him in Scotland.

“It’s not a case of him needing us, we need him,” Fr Kennedy said.

Pauline Donald, a doctoral researcher at Glasgow University, who has been one of the leaders of the campaign to keep him in Scotland, said the protest was the result of anger and frustration from campaigners.

“We are getting very frightened now,” she said. “But there has been so much support for John in the local community and beyond and they are determined to do something. They are going to protest tomorrow because they are desperate to force the UKBA and home office to do something to let this good man stay here. This is his home.”