Court orders fine, deportation for Nigerian after illegal entry

A Nigerian national, who entered Guyana illegally, was fined $30,000 and ordered deported by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that on November 17, at Charity, Chizoba Paul Udemo entered Guyana illegally without presenting himself to an immigration officer. The man pleaded guilty to the offence and said, “I normally live in Venezuela. My wife was with me there but then she left to go to Suriname and she later informed me that she was pregnant so I tried to get to her by travelling through Guyana.”

Prosecutor Luckhai Jairam told the court that on the said day, police were on patrol on the Henrietta Public Road along the Essequibo Coast when they conducted a search on the defendant, who was in motor car HB 5534. The accused was asked to present his documents and failed to do so. Subsequently, he was taken to the Anna Regina police station and later to the Eve Leary Police Headquarters before investigations resulted in the charge.

The Magistrate told Udemo that he will remain in police custody until he is removed from Guyana. The defendant then said, “Well if that is the case, there is nothing that I can do your worship… but I have explained… why I came.”