The Canadian Federal Court has upheld a decision denying asylum to retired Nigerian police officer Wale Akinpelu and his wife, Ajarat Mojirola, citing his past employment with the Nigerian Police Force, which has a reputation for corruption and human rights violations.
Justice Norris of the federal court in Ottawa ruled on January 2 that the couple, who fled Nigeria in 2017, did not qualify for refugee protection in Canada. The ruling came after immigration authorities found Mr. Akinpelu ineligible due to his association with an institution accused of rights abuses.
According to court filings, Mrs. Akinpelu first left Nigeria for the U.S. in May 2017, with her husband joining her in October of the same year after resigning from the Nigerian Police Force. The couple later moved to Canada in 2018, where they sought asylum, claiming they were being pursued by a criminal gang in Nigeria.
However, their application hit a roadblock when they admitted that Mr. Akinpelu’s former colleagues in the police had “scores to settle” with him. Authorities saw this as confirmation of his involvement with a corrupt institution and deemed him ineligible for protection under Canada’s immigration laws. His asylum request was suspended and ultimately rejected on grounds of violating human or international rights.
The couple’s judicial review appeal was also dismissed, reinforcing Canada’s strict stance against individuals with ties to organizations implicated in corruption and human rights abuses.
Mr. and Mrs. Akinpelu now face uncertainty regarding their immigration status, as their options for legal recourse appear to be narrowing.
