A Nigerian fraudster, Emmanuel Jack, 35, who scammed women out of nearly £200,000, has avoided deportation from the UK after a judge ruled that the healthcare system in Nigeria could not meet the needs of his wife and children.
Jack was sentenced to three years in prison in 2014 after posing as an architect on dating websites and tricking vulnerable women in the UK and USA into sending him £186,000. Following his conviction, the UK Home Office revoked his British citizenship and ordered his deportation in 2022.
However, Jack challenged the ruling, arguing that his removal would have a severe impact on his British wife and children, who suffer from serious medical conditions. His wife faces complications from pregnancy, while his 18-month-old son, born prematurely, requires specialist care. His six-year-old daughter has eyesight issues, and his 16-year-old daughter from a previous relationship also relies on his support.
A London immigration tribunal, led by Judges Victor Rae-Reeves and Luke Bulpitt, ruled in Jack’s favor, citing that his family’s medical needs require consistent specialist care that would not be easily accessible in Nigeria.
The tribunal found Jack to be a “loving and hands-on father”, playing a crucial role in his children’s upbringing and medical care. It concluded that deportation would have a “deleterious effect” on his children’s well-being and would “tear apart a close-knit family.”
Jack originally came to the UK in 1997 with his parents and later obtained British citizenship, which was revoked following his conviction. After being released from prison, he married a British woman, with whom he has now been for over six years.
Despite his criminal past, the judges ruled that the public interest in deporting foreign criminals was outweighed by the hardship it would cause his family, allowing him to remain in the UK.
