Deported Nigerian student Olukunle Elukanlo will arrive back in Dublin tomorrow morning.
While he was due to arrive today, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said there had been problems obtaining his Nigerian passport. She said he was expected to arrive at 8.30am on a flight from Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has said his deportation two weeks ago was a mistake, but partly Mr Elukanlo's own fault.
A statement issued yesterday on behalf of Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said he had never intended to deport Mr Elukanlo before he sat his Leaving Certificate in June.
He was deported on March 17th because he failed to turn up for an appointment with the Garda National Immigration Bureau when he was instructed to, said the statement.
"By presenting himself at GNIB on the day of a deportation flight, rather than on the earlier date specified in a letter written to him, Olukunle was treated as a deportation evader. He was therefore both arrested and deported by different officials acting in good faith." So while the deportation had been authorised, the statement continued, its timing was unfortunate.
The deportation of the 20-year-old secondary student gave rise to an unprecedented storm of protest, with his fellow students at Palmerstown Community School marching on the Dáil, protests outside the State tourism agency Fáilte Ireland, and interventions by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev John Neill.
Mr McDowell announced his decision to revoke the deportation order last Thursday. He said it was a "once off" and would not set a precedent.
Mr Elukanlo has been granted a six-month student visa which will also allow him to work 20 hours a week. He has been promised his job back at the Supervalu supermarket in Palmerstown.
Anthony Mayne, one of Mr Elukanlo's schoolmates who was instrumental in organising the campaign against the deportation, said a party was planned for Saturday night. A local pub has offered a room to the students for the celebrations. Mr Elukanlo is expected to appear on tomorrow's Late Late Show.
Meanwhile, Residents Against Racism will call for the asylum process "to be put in the hands of the Human Rights Commission" at a protest outside the GPO in Dublin, at 12.30pm on Saturday.
