Govt urged to cancel deportation order

The Government must cancel a deportation order against a Nigerian woman who faces the death penalty in her home country, an anti-racism group urged today.

Residents Against Racism handed a petition into Justice minister Michael McDowell’s party office on South Frederick Street in Dublin.

Nimota Banidele, aged 38, could be stoned to death under strict Sharia laws because she had three children outside marriage with a Christian man.

She was sentenced to death in her home country in August 2002 but she escaped from prison and fled to Ireland seeking asylum.

However, her asylum application has been turned down and she now faces deportation back to Nigeria with others on August 12.

Ms Banidele, who is considering a judicial review against her deportation, has been asked by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to report to its HQ before Thursday, when she fears she will be deported.

“Minister McDowell has the power to allow her to stay in Ireland and thus save her life,” said Residents Against Racism spokesman Mark Grehan today.