Nigerian says he wants to help ill brother - but Justice rejects his visa application
A Nigerian man who applied for a visa to Ireland to help in the repatriation of his mentally ill brother has had his application turned down, Metro Éireann has learned.
Kingsley Ugwueke was attempting to assist his Nigerian-born brother Emmanuel, who is believed to be residing in Ireland legally but has been living in a public park opposite the petrol station at Broadstone bus depot in Dublin’s north inner city for some 18 months.
Metro Éireann understands that members of the Nigerian community have made several failed attempts to assist the homeless Ugwueke – which prompted one man, Chinedu Ohaekelehem, to trace his family to the southeast of Nigeria.
Ohaekelehem told Metro Éireann that the family was shocked and saddened to hear the fate of their relation.
He added that the family and their local community, including their traditional ruler, discussed the matter and agreed that Emmanuel’s younger brother Kingsley should go to Dublin and find out what happened to him, with a view to bringing him back to Nigeria.
When Ohaekelehem returned to Dublin, he said he contacted the Nigerian Embassy here and informed them of the family’s intentions. He also handed a letter from the family and their traditional ruler, as well as a photocopy of the data page of Kingsley’s passport to officially introduce him.
In April this year, it’s believed that the younger Ugwueke applied for a visa to visit his brother. It’s also understood that his application was fully backed by the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, and that the Federal Government of Nigeria issued a ‘letter of introduction’ to the Irish Embassy in Nigeria detailing the circumstances.
However, the Department of Justice stated its belief that Kingsley Ugwueke would not observe the conditions of the visa.
In its refusal letter, seen by Metro Éireann, the department said: “The visa sought is for a specific purpose and duration – the applicant has not satisfied the visa officer that such conditions would be observed.”
Justice also listed other reasons that informed its decision, including that the younger Ugwueke showed no “evidence of finances, no confirmation of hotel booking for duration of stay… [The] obligations to return to [Ugwueke’s] home country have not been deemed sufficient [and that] no letter of invitation [was] submitted with the visa application.”
Kingsley Ugwueke, who is said to be the only person close to his brother, told Metro Éireann that his planned visit to Ireland was for very clear reasons.
“I work with a reputable construction company in Owerri [in Imo State]. I am not coming to live in Ireland. [I was going there] to see my brother and [find out] what is actually wrong and what to do. I am the only person that can come and talk to him and he will listen.”
Kingsley acknowledged he did not submit some of the documents required, including a letter from his brother’s doctor in Ireland requesting his attention. It’s emerged that the doctor refused to write such a letter, stating that it would be a violation of Emmanuel’s human rights.
Responding to our request for comment, the Department of Justice said it cannot comment on individual cases, but open to any visa applicant to appeal a refusal and to address in that appeal the reasons given for the initial refusal.
