UK Asylum System Faces Scrutiny Amid Controversies

A Nigerian woman, after eight failed asylum attempts, was finally granted the right to stay in the UK by joining the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group labeled a terrorist organization by Nigeria. Despite her involvement being acknowledged as a ploy to bolster her asylum claim, Upper Tribunal Judge Gemma Loughran ruled that she faced a 'well-founded fear of persecution' in Nigeria due to her association with IPOB. This decision has sparked criticism from UK politicians, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick calling it a 'sick joke.' Meanwhile, another controversial case involves a Ghanaian woman, Francisca Boateng, who secured UK residency under Brexit marriage rules despite never attending her wedding. These cases have intensified scrutiny on the UK's immigration tribunal system, leading to calls for reform from political figures, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.