An immigration official believed a Nigerian doctor who has been detained in prison for the past eight days had come here with the intention of entering the UK illegally, the High Court was told yesterday.
The court is hearing a challenge by Dr Grant Oyeye (32) to the legality of his detention in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.
Counsel for Dr Oyeye insisted his client had no intention to deceive or enter the State other than for the purpose of attending a course in tropical medicine. Dr Oyeye was detained by immigration officials on his arrival at Dublin Airport on June 12th.
He had enrolled for a six-week course in Dublin and had a valid visa, passport, £3,000 sterling and $400.
The immigration official, Mr Breandan O Somachain, stated on affidavit that he believed Dr Oyeye had insufficient funds to support himself and that he was entering the State for a reason other than that expressed by him. He believed Dr Oyeye's intention was to enter the UK illegally.
Mr Peter Finlay SC, for Dr Oyeye, said his client had enrolled and paid for the £950 course at the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, and obtained a visa from the Irish Embassy in Nigeria. He said Dr Oyeye maintained he had sufficient funds for his 10-week stay as he was a devout man who did not drink or smoke and would live modestly. His client had no intention to deceive or enter the State other than for the purpose of attending the course.
In an affidavit read by Mr Finlay, Dr Oyeye said he explained to the official when he arrived that he had a one-way ticket but that he intended to buy a return ticket to Nigeria.
Dr Oyeye said he was told the hospital where he had stated he worked had said he had not worked there for a long time.
He said he contacted a cousin in Liverpool who arranged for the hospital to send a fax confirming he was an employee but was on secondment in another hospital and his position was open for him on his return.
Mr Finlay also read Mr O Somachain's affidavit in which he said Dr Oyeye could not explain why he had come to Ireland three weeks before his course began. Mr O Somachain denied he told Dr Oyeye that he was obliged to have a return ticket.
He also said he did not believe Dr Oyeye would have been granted a visa if the embassy in Nigeria had known he had previously entered Ireland without a visa for several days. The hearing continues today.