THE Home Secretary undermined an investigation into an immigration detention centre death, according to a court.
A judge ruled yesterday that while Priti Patel was under a legal requirement to “assist the coronial inquest by identifying and securing evidence from potential witnesses” when deaths occur in detention, in a 2019 case she went ahead with efforts to remove potential witnesses.
Oscar Okwurime, a Nigerian man, died at the age of 34 in a cell at a detention centre in west London. His death was not discovered until the following morning.
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After an inquiry was set up, a friend of Okwurime, also from Nigeria, was due to provide evidence. The court heard that Patel continued with efforts to deport the man, Ahmed Lawal, by charter flight before the inquest started.
The president of the upper immigration tribunal, Mr Justice Lane, said Patel’s decision to “remove the applicant to Nigeria was unlawful as she had failed to take reasonable steps to secure his evidence”.
The lawyers who brought the case on behalf of Lawal say it is the first time a home secretary has been found to have breached a detainee’s human rights in this way.
The case shows “the cavalier attitude of the Home Office when enforcing removals”, according to Jamie Bell, a solicitor with Duncan Lewis.
The solicitor told The Times that officials “did not hesitate” to continue with planning to remove possible witnesses.
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“This risked scuppering the future coronial proceedings in this case and may have prevented the failings that led to a man’s death in custody from being identified,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Home Office commented: “Every death in detention is a tragedy and we are fully aware of the lasting impact this can have on family and friends.
“Deaths in detention are relatively rare and are referred to police and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for investigation.”
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