An extraordinary rendition of common sense

A HIGHLY qualified engineer is facing deportation from Scotland despite his "outstanding contribution" to the oil industry because his brother is wanted for drug dealing.

Jude Umeh's MP has called on the Home Office to reverse its decision to kick him out of the country, saying he is being punished for the "sins of the brother".

Nigerian Mr Umeh, 29, was allowed to stay in Scotland under the government's Fresh Talent initiative, designed to keep highly skilled immigrants working in the country.

After graduating from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, he secured a vital role as an asset integrity engineer in the oil industry, making sure rigs were safe and fit to operate.

He also became a valued member of the congregation of St Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen and had hoped to continue working and paying tax in Scotland.

He came to the attention of the authorities when his brother started to share a flat with him in Aberdeen and allegedly had hard drugs, including cocaine, sent by post to their home.

An investigation in 2007 cleared Mr Umeh of any connection to the crime, but his brother, Martins, went on the run and continues to be hunted by Grampian Police in connection with the drugs investigation.

Now the Home Office has informed Mr Umeh that, due to the drug case, he will be deported, despite having a year left on his work visa, leading to his suspension from his job and the end of his role in the oil industry.

The UK Border Agency claims Mr Umeh should have informed it about the case when his visa application was renewed, despite the fact he had been freed without charge by the procurator fiscal in Aberdeen.

His MP, Malcolm Bruce, has asked the Home Office to reconsider its decision, saying initiatives designed to retain skilled immigrants could be undermined if successful applicants were deported due to criminal actions by family members.

The Lib Dem MP said: "Mr Umeh appears to me to have acted in good faith in relying on the procurator fiscal's statement and is facing drastic action on the basis of an innocent difference of understanding with the police. All the evidence suggests he is a responsible and useful citizen and it appears unjust that the sins of his brother should be visited upon him."

Mr Umeh said: "If I commit a crime, I expect to be fully punished for it. But I do not think I should be punished for crimes allegedly committed by others. I deplore drugs."

He went on: "I have worked hard and paid taxes, but I am still being deported. It is very sad for me."

His former employer, engineering firm Bureau Veritas UK, has told him it will re-employ him if he can get his working visa restored."My bosses had to suspend me when the deportation order came through," he said. "They will have me back when this is sorted out, but they can't now legally employ me.

"It is now illegal for me to work here, so I have to rely on handouts while my appeal is heard. I could be working and paying tax here, but instead I am not allowed to contribute anything."

He was charged by police in connection with the drug investigation in 2007, but the case never came to court.

After Mr Bruce's intervention, area procurator fiscal Anne Currie confirmed there were no outstanding charges against Mr Umeh. She wrote to the MP, saying: "Jude Umeh does not and has not faced any charges before a court in relation to this incident. There are no outstanding charges against Mr Jude Umeh from my office."

However, Mr Bruce's intervention has failed to convince the Home Office.

Victoria Bowman, deputy director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: "We will refuse entry to the UK where foreign nationals have not disclosed all relevant information which has a bearing on their application for entry. This man had his case considered by a number of judges, including the High Court, and had his appeals rejected on every occasion."

Mr Umeh's case comes after a row over the treatment of Precious Mhango, ten, who has been ordered to leave the UK with her mother Florence, despite a campaign to let them stay here.

Campaigners claim Precious, who has lived in Glasgow since the age of three, could be subjected to genital mutilation if she returned to her native Malawi.