Abiodun Michael Olatokun FRSA recently represented a Georgian Asylum seeker in a claim for refugee status and humanitarian protection. The client was a public official in Georgia who had experienced persecution at the hands of criminal gangs associated with the ruling Georgian Dream political party.
The Home Office rejected the application on the basis that reviewing officers did not believe the applicant’s claim to be credible. Abiodun responded to the initial ‘reasons for refusal letter’ by way of a skeleton argument in early 2024. Working with Portway Solicitors we brought this case before the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) this spring.
At the hearing Abiodun gave closing remarks highlighting objective evidence about the conditions faced by Georgian prisoners. The final judgment referred to reports used by Abiodun that there were “ “significant” human rights issues in the country, including “torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary, along with investigations and prosecutions widely considered to be politically motivated.” Notably, the 2023 Human Rights report identifies “serious government corruption” as one of the “significant human rights issues” that was not included in the previous report.””
Following the submissions and the oral hearing the judge was convinced that Abiodun’s client had been “assaulted on a number of occasions and threatened, harassed and intimidated and that the authorities have not been willing or able to provide a sufficiency of protection”. The appeal was thus allowed on humanitarian protection grounds.
Abiodun acts across the full range of immigration law matters and has won several challenging asylum cases. He also takes instructions on a direct access basis.
Further information
For more information from the public-law team, contact clerks@36public.co.uk
Involving Abiodun Michael Olatokun FRSA
