More than 3,000 asylum seekers could be detained and deported from the United Kingdom every month to enforce Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s flagship asylum bill, leaked documents have revealed.

As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a backlash from Conservative MPs over record levels of net migration, briefing papers have revealed the government has drawn up plans to remove 3,163 asylum seekers every month from January 2024.

According to the Guardian UK, the documents, which focus on the implementation of the illegal migration bill, also make clear ministers could face crippling legal action without a substantial increase in legal aid fees for lawyers who advise refugees.

It is the first detailed glimpse of the scale of the task facing Whitehall if it is to implement Braverman’s bill, which is currently before the Lords. The Home Office has until now refused to release the impact assessment of the bill.

The disclosure came as net migration and the backlog of asylum claims reached record highs.

Sunak was compelled to concede that numbers should fall after figures from the Office for National Statistics showed overall migration into the UK for 2022 was 606,000, which represents a 24% increase on the previous high of 488,000 in 2021.

More than 100,000 people seeking asylum have waited longer than six months for an initial decision on their case, the latest figures showed, while more than three-quarters of all small-boat asylum applications since 2018 are still awaiting a decision.

The leaked documents, marked “urgent”, were prepared this week for Alex Chalk, the lord chancellor, the junior justice minister Lord Bellamy and the Ministry of Justice permanent secretary, Antonia Romeo.

The aim was to ensure there were enough lawyers on hand to provide advice at immigration detention centres if the bill passes into law.

Under the bill, those who arrive in the UK without permission will not be able to stay to claim asylum but will instead be detained and removed, either to their home nation or a third country such as Rwanda.

The documents, prepared using data from the Home Office, say the department should prepare for 1,600 people to be held under the bill in detention centres from September, rising to 3,163 every month from January.

One document said, “Steers are required as soon as possible to engage legal aid provider and – if you agree it is necessary – start implementing fee increases in time for September 2023 when we are expecting to provide access to legal aid to 1,600 individuals (scenario B) and scale to 3,163 individuals a month (scenario C) from January 2024.”

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said the documents show that the government, contrary to its claims, is preparing for mass deportations.

He added, “While the government has been rigorously sticking to the line that its new bill would ‘act as a deterrent’, this information shows that it is well aware that vulnerable people will keep arriving in the UK in search of protection.

“It is appalling that it is preparing to lock up and kick out thousands of men, women and children, most of whom would be found to be refugees if their claim was heard on UK soil.”

In the documents, civil servants recommend increasing legal aid fees by at least 15% in order for the government to be able to attract solicitors to represent thousands of asylum seekers. But the document also puts forward a possible increase of 200%, which is not recommended.

Chalk is warned by civil servants that a judicial review could be launched if he fails to provide legal advice to detainees.

The briefing said: “You (lord chancellor) will have a statutory duty to secure that legal aid is available to this cohort … Not addressing capacity issues could mean that there are not sufficient legal aid providers to carry out this work. This could be challenged by way of judicial review.”

According to one document, current hourly rates for immigration solicitors are between £53 and £74. Civil servants held a meeting with specialist firms in the sector who “were clear that unless legal aid rates are substantially increased they would not be able to justify allocation of IMB work in any volume over privately paid casework,” the document said.

Assuming that ministers approved of an increase in fees, the document recommended a 15% increase to up to £86 an hour, which would result in an increase in expenditure on fees from £53m to £61m a year.

 

The Guardian UK

The apex court in Nigeria, Supreme Court has on Friday slammed two million naira fine against the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for poke nosing into the affairs of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Court also affirmed the eligibility of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to contest the presidential election that held on February 25, 2023.

It noted that PDP’s appeal lacked merit and warned counsel to advice their client against filling this kind of suit.

“The instant appeal was unnecessary and counsel should do better to advice their client against filing this sort of suit in future,” Justice Adamu Jauro, said.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by three individuals seeking to stop the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima over age falsification and citizenship status in the document Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Friday, held that the suit by the trio of Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac Audu and Anongu Moses, who identified themselves as Concerned Citizens, was frivolous and an abuse of the court process.

In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/C5/657/2023, the plaintiffs alleged that Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, lied on oath in the Form EC9 he submitted to INEC, in aid of his qualifications to contest the election.

They also told the court that Tinubu falsely declared that he was not a citizen of any other country despite that he was in possession of a Guinean passport.

The trio further alleged that whereas the President-elect claimed that he was born in 1957, it was discovered that 1952 was his actual date of birth, arguing that Tinubu’s action was in gross violation of Section 117 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 156 of the Penal Code Act.

To usurp Tinubu, they prayed to the court to ban Tinubu from vying for any elective position for the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to file the suit, adding that the court could not exercise jurisdiction to hear it because it relates to a presidential election.

He maintained that under section 285 (14) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, only an aspirant could challenge the qualification or nomination of a candidate in an election.

He held that since the election has already been conducted, only the Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to entertain cases arising from the presidential election.

While accusing the plaintiffs of wasting judicial time of the court by filing the suit which he described as an abuse of court process, Justice Omotosho held that the legal action was in bad faith as it was aimed to expose the judiciary to ridicule.

He also held that the suit, which sought to stop the inauguration that is a few days away, was capable of destabilising the democracy in the country.

Omotosho then awarded a cost of N10 million in Tinubu’s favour, N5 million in favour of the APC and another N1 million to be personally paid by counsel for the plaintiffs, to each of the respondents.

He further threatened to refer the lawyers that helped the plaintiffs to file the suit to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for instituting an action “capable of dragging the judiciary to the mud.”

[Punch]

Less than one month after leaving office, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) constituted by its Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, to observe the general election in Sierra Leone on June 24, 2023.

According to a release issued on Friday by Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, the

Commonwealth Scribe constituted the observer group made up of a team of distinguished experts upon the invitation from the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone for next month’s polls in the West African nation. 

As the COG Chairman, Osinbajo will be the leader and spokesperson of the Group of distinguished experts drawn from around the world, interfacing between the Group and the media, and the authorities of the host country, and also representing the Group at all official functions.

 The Vice President will also preside over meetings of the Group.

In a public statement issued on Thursday, The Commonwealth Scribe expressed gratitude “to His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for accepting my invitation, to undertake this important area of our work in deepening democracy across our Commonwealth – despite his busy schedule and overseeing a seamless transition of his government. 

“As a senior statesman from the region, H.E. Osinbajo understands in depth, the challenges across West Africa and I am confident he will lead a brilliant team.”

Responding, Osinbajo welcomed  “the opportunity to lead the election observers in Sierra Leone on June 24, this year.

“I’m highly honoured by the unique opportunity to continue to bring my expertise and experience in contributing to deepening democracy especially in Africa and the Commonwealth by extension.” 

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Osinbajo will be joined by recognised dignitaries from various fields including politicians, legal, media, gender and election administration professionals from across the Commonwealth to carry out the task next month. 

The Commonwealth also stated that “the mandate of the Osinbajo-led Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone “will be to observe the electoral process and provide an independent assessment of whether the election has been conducted in a credible manner. The Group will then report on the conduct of the elections in accordance with the standards to which Sierra Leone has committed itself, including its own laws.

“In line with Commonwealth methodology, the Group will consider, among other things, whether conditions exist for credible and inclusive elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; and whether voters are free to express their will.”

“The Group, upon completion of its assignment, will submit its recommendations in a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will subsequently share it with the Government of Sierra Leone, the Electoral Commission, political parties and all Commonwealth governments.”

The Vice President, on behalf of the Nigerian government, has been at the forefront of championing democratic governments especially in the West African sub-region, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

On several occasions, Osinbajo had represented President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria at different sessions of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Sierra Leone Election: Osinbajo to Lead Commonwealth Observer Group

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Less than one month after leaving office, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) constituted by its Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, to observe the general election in Sierra Leone on June 24, 2023.

According to a release issued on Friday by Osinbajo’s media aide, Laolu Akande, the

Commonwealth Scribe constituted the observer group made up of a team of distinguished experts upon the invitation from the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone for next month’s polls in the West African nation. 

As the COG Chairman, Osinbajo will be the leader and spokesperson of the Group of distinguished experts drawn from around the world, interfacing between the Group and the media, and the authorities of the host country, and also representing the Group at all official functions.

 The Vice President will also preside over meetings of the Group.

In a public statement issued on Thursday, The Commonwealth Scribe expressed gratitude “to His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for accepting my invitation, to undertake this important area of our work in deepening democracy across our Commonwealth – despite his busy schedule and overseeing a seamless transition of his government. 

“As a senior statesman from the region, H.E. Osinbajo understands in depth, the challenges across West Africa and I am confident he will lead a brilliant team.”

Responding, Osinbajo welcomed  “the opportunity to lead the election observers in Sierra Leone on June 24, this year.

“I’m highly honoured by the unique opportunity to continue to bring my expertise and experience in contributing to deepening democracy especially in Africa and the Commonwealth by extension.” 

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Osinbajo will be joined by recognised dignitaries from various fields including politicians, legal, media, gender and election administration professionals from across the Commonwealth to carry out the task next month. 

The Commonwealth also stated that “the mandate of the Osinbajo-led Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone “will be to observe the electoral process and provide an independent assessment of whether the election has been conducted in a credible manner. The Group will then report on the conduct of the elections in accordance with the standards to which Sierra Leone has committed itself, including its own laws.

“In line with Commonwealth methodology, the Group will consider, among other things, whether conditions exist for credible and inclusive elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; and whether voters are free to express their will.”

“The Group, upon completion of its assignment, will submit its recommendations in a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will subsequently share it with the Government of Sierra Leone, the Electoral Commission, political parties and all Commonwealth governments.”

The Vice President, on behalf of the Nigerian government, has been at the forefront of championing democratic governments especially in the West African sub-region, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

On several occasions, Osinbajo had represented President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria at different sessions of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

[ThisDay]