UK to deport 'dangerous' rapist to Nigeria

A rapist, who claimed deporting him from the United Kingdom would breach his human rights, Ekene Anoliefo, will be sent home to Nigeria after losing an appeal against the order.Mr Justice Blake said the public interest in getting 'dangerous sexual predator' Anoliefo, 38, out of the country far outweighed his right to respect for his private life.Anoliefo was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to nine, in May 2009 after he was convicted of the brutal rape of a 19-year-old, who he held captive in his car after pretending to help her.The Nigerian computing student drove the young woman to his Aberdeen flat, forced her onto a bed and raped her in what the sentencing judge described as 'particularly brutal and degrading' circumstances.He was ordered for deportation last December and now, after an appeal to the Upper Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, has failed in his human rights' bid to be allowed to stay.Anoliefo's lawyers had argued that he had lawfully lived in the UK for four years as a student and had hoped to be granted indefinite leave to remain once he finished his studies and found a job.But rejecting his appeal, Mr Justice Blake said a more substantial private life would need to be shown in a case where someone had not previously had indefinite leave to stay in the country.'It is unfortunate that permission to appeal was granted, since this appeal is wholly without merit,' he said.'It is obvious that, where a claimant has been convicted of rape and the conviction upheld on appeal, no properly self-directing judge could have done other than to have dismissed the appeal on the basis that the public interest manifestly outweighed it.'In sentencing Anoliefo to a 12-year jail term, which was later reduced to nine years, Lord Pentland said: 'You are, in my judgment, a dangerous and determined sexual predator who has not the slightest respect for women.'Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge said he had to reflect society's abhorrence.Anoliefo listened through an interpreter as defence QC Donald MacLeod told how he had brought shame on his wealthy family.His father is a politician in his local state parliament, the court heard, and had paid for Anoliefo to come to Scotland to study computer technology to prepare him for a career in the Nigerian oil industry.Mr MacLeod also told the court that Anoliefo still maintained he was innocent although a jury had found him guilty.Lord Pentland said: 'You stand convicted of a series of incidents involving the assault, molestation and harassment of six women and a female child in the streets of Aberdeen over a period extending from the autumn of 2007 to the summer of 2008.'In addition to these serious offences, you have been convicted of the cruel and degrading rape of a young woman whom you detained against her will in your car after you had pretended to help her late at night.'The sentence I impose must reflect the abhorrence that society feels towards persons like you who prey on women in this way and who are willing to resort to violence and rape for their own sexual gratification.'He added: 'I note that you have not, at any stage, expressed the slightest degree of remorse or empathy for your victims.'The judge said he would also recommend a deportation order due to the gravity of the crimes.Grampian Police Det Sgt Neil Kennedy, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: 'This sentence sends a clear message to those prepared to commit these appalling and cowardly crimes.'The witnesses in this case behaved with great courage after being traumatised by these crimes.'They will take comfort from the fact that he will be deported at the end of his sentence.' (THE NATION)