Nigerian national fined 1,000 for entering SVG illegally

A Nigerian man was on Friday, December 5 fined $1,000 for entering this country illegally.

Don Obiallia pleaded guilty to two immigration charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias.

The charges read, that on November 13, 2014, Obiallia, a prohibited immigrant,{{more}} entered the country at Chateaubelair without a passport, and on the same day, at Barrouallie, he “wilfully allowed himself to land as a prohibited immigrant.”

Obialla was made to pay the fine forthwith or spend three months in jail on each charge. A removal order from the country was also made.

According to the facts, on December 3, at approximately 7 p.m., members of the Special Patrol Unit who were on duty in the Fountain area, went to the home of Roy Frederick at Belair, armed with a search warrant.

On arrival, they met Obialla there and questioned him. Obialla told the officers his name was Francis and he was from the Ivory Coast. He informed them that he came here by boat and did not inform immigration authorities.

He was subsequently taken to Kingstown and questioned by immigration officer Dudley Hackshaw, at which point, he gave his name as Don Obialla of Nigeria.

He claimed he came by boat, but when checks were made there was no record of him entering the State at any of the ports of entry. He was then arrested and charged.

In court, Obialla’s counsel, Grant Connell, said his client came to the Caribbean and was in St Lucia when he decided to come across to see the island.

According to Connell, his client is Nigerian and all efforts could be made to secure the necessary documents to prove his nationality.

Connell added that Obialla hopes to visit these shores again, providing his documentation is in order.

He said Nigerians are more than welcomed here, but would prefer if they check-in at the necessary ports of entry.(KW)