High court to consider Kunle’s deportation challenge

High Court Judge, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, is expected to deal with an application for leave to bring judicial review proceedings, challenging the deportation of Nigerian Olunkunle Elukanlo.

Last week she granted an injunction restraining his deportation until today.

The 21-year-old was allowed to return to Ireland to complete his Leaving Cert, after a previous deportation.

Mr Elukanlo’s deportation was scheduled for last Tuesday following the Justice Minister’s rejection of a plea for him to be permitted to remain in Ireland.

Kunle is seeking to stay here on grounds that he is the father of an Irish citizen born to an Irish mother.

Yesterday, Kunle received a 12-month driving ban and a fine after being found guilty of driving without insurance, tax and an NCT cert.

He had a previous conviction in 2003 for driving without a licence.

Meanwhile, a group of up to 35 failed asylum seekers were flown to Nigeria overnight.

The group included around ten women and some children and were accompanied on the flight by 25 gardaí, many attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Garda spokespeople said accommodation and transport assistance would be given to the group on arrival in Lagos.

Protest group, Residents Against Racism, said the deportations reflect recent trends in the numbers of foreign nationals being deported as soon as they finish school and turn 18.