A Ghanaian has instituted a legal case against the United Kingdom Home Office after he was denied permanent residency despite living in the country for 42 years.

The Ghanaian identified as Nelson Shardey is a retired 74-year-old man who arrived in the UK in 1977.

But after living in the UK for almost 50 years, Shardey was informed to wait another 10 years before the Home Office could grant him permanent residency, the BBC reports.

Shardey had for many years assumed he was officially British after he first arrived in the UK in 1977 to study accountancy on a student visa that also allowed him to work.

He only discovered otherwise in 2019 and, despite paying taxes all his adult life, now faces paying thousands of pounds to stay and use the NHS, the report added.

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According to him, I have never left the UK as I saw no need to and regarded it as my home.

“Nobody questioned me. I bought all my things on credit, even the house.

“I got a mortgage. And nobody questioned me about anything,” Shardy, a retired newsagent told the BBC.

Explaining further, he said he took on a series of jobs, making Mother’s Pride bread and Kipling’s Cakes near Southampton, and Bendick’s Chocolate in Winchester after a coup in his native Ghana which affected his family’s inability to send him money for the fees.

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He added that no one ever queried his right to live or work in the UK.

But in a twist of fate in 2019 when he applied for a passport so he could go back to Ghana following the death of his mother, Shardy said he was told he was not British.

The Home Office said he had no right to be in the UK.

Over the 10 years, it costs about £7,000, with a further £10,500 over the same period to access the NHS.

“I cannot afford to pay any part of the money they are asking. Telling me to go through that route is a punishment, and it’s not fair in any way,” said Mr Shardey, who is recovering from prostate cancer.

“I don’t understand why this fuss at all, because I put my life, my whole self into this country,” he added.

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When he tried to extend his right to stay in the UK online two years ago, he filled out the wrong form.

That meant the 10-year process had to begin again in 2023.

As a result, Mr Shardey will not be allowed to stay in the UK permanently until he is 84.

A lawyer at Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, Nicola Burgess, is now taking the Home Office to court on Shardey’s behalf.

The Home Office declined to comment on the case, the report added.

Shardey has performed jury service, and in 2007 was given a police award for bravery after tackling a robber who was attacking a delivery man with a baseball bat.

The retiree has two sons – Jacob and Aaron – with a British woman after his first marriage, also with a Briton, ended.

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo State to enable unregistered voters to register for the forthcoming election in the state.

The commission further added that the registration exercise would last for 10 days commencing from May 27 to June 5, 2024.

The National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Professor Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commissioner’s head office in Benin.

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The National Commissioner whose speech was read by Dr. Anugum Onuoha, Edo State Residential Electoral Commissioner, said the exercise became imperative to “allow persons who turned 18 years… as well those who have not registered before or wish to transfer their registration to their new location to participate in the forthcoming election.”

“This will enable prospective registrants, enough time to register before the governorship election.
Also not that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as multiple registration is Illegal. Lost or damaged voters cards will be replaced during the exercise.”

“In addition to the registration, uncollected Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) will be made available for collection. Also the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in the state office soon and simultaneously uploaded to the commission website.”

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According to him, out of the 2,501,08 persons that registered for the 2023 election in the state, only 2,128,288 collected their PVCs while 373,030 PVCs remained uncollected.

He, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders “to join us in mobilising prospective registrants to come out in mass for the exercise.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Onuoha, Edo REC, said the engagement with, and support from partners and stakeholders was one of the critical factors for success of the electoral process.

According to him, because of time constraints, “online pre-registration option in Edo will not be possible”, adding that each centre will be managed by two officials of the commission and members of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC).

He added: “In the next few days, the commission will commence the training of officials for the exercise.”

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, charged with murder and attempted kidnap have opted for plea bargain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state lead counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed the court about the plea bargain option on Thursday when the case was called for re-arraignment.

The case was called for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Cokers of an Ikeja High Court.

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NAN reports that Evans and his co-defendant were to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.

Sule informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment but he was aware the defendants have applied for plea.

The prosecutor, however, said the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).

Details shortly…