₦airaland Forum

06 July 2009


A Nigerian man who tried to smuggle cocaine into the West Midlands has been jailed for six years at Manchester Crown Court.

Edwin Atuegwu Mbonu was stopped at Birmingham International Airport by UK Border Agency officers on 7 June, when he arrived on a flight from Nigeria via Amsterdam.

Officers searched Mbonu's luggage and found 60 small packets of cocaine concealed in tubs of hand cream. They also discovered that he had swallowed another 25 pellets of cocaine. Almost 1kg of the Class A drug, estimated to be worth £45,000, was recovered from him.

Mbonu was carrying around £2,000 in cash, which was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He claimed that he was planning to use the money to buy women's clothes in Birmingham for his business back in Nigeria.

Mike O'Grady, assistant director of investigation for HM Revenue & Customs, said:

'We are working at the forefront in the fight to stop drugs entering the country, alongside our partners in the UK Border Agency. It never fails to amaze that people take such huge risks with their health and freedom to try and make what they think is easy money. This shows, yet again, we will catch and prosecute anyone attempting to smuggle drugs through our regional airports - our stance is one of zero tolerance.'

Mbonu was sentenced on 3 July, and will be deported after serving his sentence.

Can anyone in the house let me know what is happening at british high commission nigeria concerning my brother uk visa application it's has been like a month he submitted but till now no response from them, though it's another application when the first was refused. Is the IT problem they av that is affecting it or what? Someone hinted me dat maybe it's sucessful and in queue for approval. Plz let me know what is happening.

Can anyone in the house let me know what is happening at british high commission nigeria concerning my brother uk visa application it's has been like a month he submitted but till now no response from them, though it's another application when the first was refused. Is the IT problem they av that is affecting it or what? Someone hinted me dat maybe it's sucessful and in queue for approval. Plz let me know what is happening.

Can anyone in the house let me know what is happening at british high commission nigeria concerning my brother uk visa application it's has been like a month he submitted but till now no response from them, though it's another application when the first was refused. Is the IT problem they av that is affecting it or what? Someone hinted me dat maybe it's sucessful and in queue for approval. Plz let me know what is happening.

Can anyone in the house let me know what is happening at british high commission nigeria concerning my brother uk visa application it's has been like a month he submitted but till now no response from them, though it's another application when the first was refused. Is the IT problem they av that is affecting it or what? Someone hinted me dat maybe it's sucessful and in queue for approval. Plz let me know what is happening.

my uncle re-applied for UK work permit entry clearance on 22nd of April, 2009 to my surprised he has not heard anything from the embassy. When he checked d status on the UKVAC Webiste this weekend it says (My visa application has been forwarded to the British High Commission). It's taking more than three weeks now and his first application which was refused based on the fact that they tried to contact the employer but he was not responding 2 their questions and they believed that the work permit was not acquired in a genuine way (which is definately genuine) was sent back in 10 working days. Though his Solicitor in uk called him that they called on 13th of may to confirm their letter. Please kindly advise me through the look of things now is he going to be issued the visa. he has been in uk for 2 on working holiday before coming back to naija to apply for the work permit entry clearance (he got the work permit itself in uk). PLEASE YOUR URGENT AND CANDID ADVICE IS NEEDED. Thanks

my uncle re-applied for UK work permit entry clearance on 22nd of April, 2009 to my surprised he has not heard anything from the embassy. When he checked d status on the UKVAC Webiste this weekend it says (My visa application has been forwarded to the British High Commission). It's taking more than three weeks now and his  first application which was refused based on the fact that they tried to contact the employer but he was not responding 2 their questions and they believed that the work permit was not acquired in a genuine way (which is definately genuine) was sent back in 10 working days. Though his Solicitor in uk called him that they called on 13th of may to confirm their letter. Please kindly advise me through the look of things now is he going to be issued the visa. he has been in uk for 2 on working holiday before coming back to naija to apply for the work permit entry clearance (he got the work permit itself in uk). PLEASE YOUR URGENT AND CANDID ADVICE IS NEEDED.[b] Thanks[/b]

my uncle re-applied for UK work permit entry clearance on 22nd of April, 2009 to my surprised he has not heard anything from the embassy. When he checked d status on the UKVAC Webiste this weekend it says (My visa application has been forwarded to the British High Commission). It's taking more than three weeks now and his  first application which was refused based on the fact that they tried to contact the employer but he was not responding 2 their questions and they believed that the work permit was not acquired in a genuine way (which is definately genuine) was sent back in 10 working days. Though his Solicitor in uk called him that they called on 13th of may to confirm their letter. Please kindly advise me through the look of things now is he going to be issued the visa. he has been in uk for 2 on working holiday before coming back to naija to apply for the work permit entry clearance (he got the work permit itself in uk). PLEASE YOUR URGENT AND CANDID ADVICE IS NEEDED. Thanks

I got my uk work permit in january 2009 in london, but i was told i need to get back to nigeria to get entry clearance for that because i was on working holiday before getting the work permit. I was in nigeria in march to apply for the entry clearance but it was refused because the ECO try to contact my future employer and he didn't respond well and that the uk account i used was suspicious, it seems to the ECO that it was inflated fo the purpose of the application. I was given right to appeal but I think this will be delayed. Should I appeal or reapply?. Please I need candid advice on this issue. Thanks alot for ur response.

I got my uk work permit in january 2009 in london, but i was told i need to get back to nigeria to get entry clearance for that because i was on working holiday before getting the work permit. I was in nigeria in march to apply for the entry clearance but it was refused because the ECO try to contact my future employer and he didn't respond well and that the uk account i used was suspicious, it seems to the ECO that it was inflated fo the purpose of the application. I was given right to appeal but I think this will be delayed. Should I appeal or reapply?. Please I need candid advice on this issue. Thanks alot for ur response.

What is the possiblity of One with UK Work Permit visa to Study (Fulltime or Parttime in the United Kingdom) in a legal way. Please, I want immigration knowledgeable fellows to contribute on this topic.

Please can someone in the house tell me how to locate the reference number because the number I was given is not working for the application tracking.
The number is VFS-NG-**-*****-X. I think this is not the right number because i was given something like this IKAC/*****/*****/1 when I first applied in July. I don't no if the system is changed now. Someone should plz enlighten me. URGENT PLZ.

Please can someone in the house tell me how to locate the reference number because the number I was given is not working for the application tracking.
The number is VFS-NG-**-*****-X. I think this is not the right number because i was given something like this IKAC/*****/*****/1 when I first applied in July. I don't no if the system is changed now. Someone should plz enlighten me. URGENT PLZ.

You've got to have a place to stay in uk cuz before entry the country you will be asked where you're planning to stay. You're ok with at least N1,000,000 in your account balance.

Is it possible for someone to change from Work Permit Visa to Student Visa in UK

It is just a certificate course in a prominent college in london. Pls I just want to know if there can be any better outcome in the reapplication because already he was given a right of appeal which I don't want him to follow because it takes ages.

Business Studies

My brother was refused an entry clearance to UK at Abuja in July 2008 and I want him to reapply to Lagos High Commission by next week. The reason why they refused him wasn't genuine, they said they are in doubt if he will come back after the conclusion of his education because he doesn't have tie back home and prospect. They didn't complain about any other thing apart from that. I want house to advice me on which way to follow on his reapplication please. It is very urgent because the school is to resume in september. THANKS

My brother was refused an entry clearance to UK at Abuja in July 2008 and I want him to reapply to Lagos High Commission by next week. The reason why they refused him wasn't genuine, they said they are in doubt if he will come back after the conclusion of his education because he doesn't have tie back home and prospect. They didn't complain about any other thing apart from that. I want house to advice me on which way to follow on his reapplication please. It is very urgent because the school is to resume in september. THANKS