The deported Nigerian Leaving Cert student, who is being allowed to return to Ireland to sit his exams in June, is expected to be permitted to remain here indefinitely, The Irish Times has learned. Paul Cullen and Mark Hennessy report
As pressure mounted on Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to relent over other deported Nigerians, a senior Department of Justice official said that after what Olukunle Elukanlo had been through, "there is no question of sending him back again".
Olukunle is due to fly back to Ireland this weekend following yesterday's unexpected and unprecedented decision by Mr McDowell, to revoke his deportation order.
The student is holding a press conference in Lagos today to outline his plans to fight for more "humane immigration laws internationally". The Irish Embassy in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, yesterday made contact with the 20-year-old. The local office of the International Organisation for Migration has been asked to make the flight arrangements.
Mr McDowell is now under increasing pressure to allow the return of other Nigerians who were deported with Olukunle on March 14th. This follows his decision to give Olukunle a six-month temporary visa to allow him to sit his exams this June.
However, last night the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform stressed that the decision to let Olukunle return to Ireland will "not create a precedent" and there will be no climbdown in other cases.
There is mounting pressure on the Minister to act in the case of Nigerians based in Athlone and Castleblayney who were deported.
Yesterday Mr McDowell described his U-turn as "an exceptional measure given the circumstances of the case".
Olukunle Elukanlo said he was very thankful to the Minister for allowing him to continue his studies.
Classmates of the student, who had campaigned vigorously for his return, reacted to the news with an impromptu celebration outside Palmerstown Community School.
Residents against Racism also welcomed the Minister's decision but said all 35 Nigerians deported last week should be allowed to return.
In particular, the group called for the return of Elizabeth Odumsi and Iyabo Nwanze, who between them left four children behind in Athlone. The women each brought one of their children with them to Nigeria when they were deported.
Ms Nwanze's son Emmanuel (8), and Ms Odumsi's children Mabajoye (18), Oluwaseun (14), and Olwasegun (11), are now in hiding in the midlands to avoid deportation. The two women had been rearing the children on their own.
Meanwhile, a public meeting took place in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, last night seeking the return of Nigerian mother of three, Nkechi Okolie, her two sons Ike (16), and Chukka (6), and daughter Chidinima (10), who had been living at Knocktornagh.
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin warmly welcomed the Minister's decision on Olukunle Elukanlo, and expressed the hope that it would lead to a "mature debate" on immigration policy.
Mr McDowell spoke about the case to Tánaiste Mary Harney, though the Department of Justice rejected charges that he had come under pressure to back down. Mr McDowell personally signed off on Olukunle's deportation on January 21st after he considered a file from asylum and immigration officials.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe said yesterday that major questions arise from the Minister's climbdown as to whether it and other deportations were legally carried out.