Access to Justice
Access to Justice
Latest: Aug. 21, 2018
Institutionalised Discrimination @HMPO 4 year passport renewal
After the intervention of Andrew Buchan of Cloisters Chambers I received my passport after 4 years of inexplicable delay. The 'efforts' of Rt Hon David Lammy MP at the insistence of Andr…
Read moreFalse Conviction
My career as an IT Consultant has been ruined because, unbeknown to me, the Metropolitan Police put a false conviction for fraud on my record. I do not have a criminal record. The Met have admitted that it made a mistake but deny that it caused me any damage.
I now know that this resulted in loss of multiple job opportunities when prospective employers carried out a criminal record check. Previously I had worked in Banks, Building Societies and Insurance Companies. This work withered as they, rightly in my view, will not employ anyone with a record for dishonesty in the financial sector.
I have been advised that the Met were negligent but it will cost me to prove any loss.
Denial of my Passport
I believe that the conviction is also the reason why my passport has been confiscated. When I sent off my passport for renewal it was confiscated by HM Passport Office. Despite the fact that this would have been my fourth passport. Without giving any reasons for changing its tack, I was asked to supply a list of documents similar to the Windrush victims. Such as pictures of my parent’s wedding, their marriage certificate and items that I have never seen let alone had custody of. Sadly both my parents died a while ago.
Like the Windrush victims, I find it impossible to comply with the request. So HM Passport Office has refused to re-new my passport. I am stuck at an impasse. This is despite the fact that I was born in the UK, have lived here most of my life and paid my taxes. They refuse to accept my driving licence, bank details, tenancy contract, utility bills and so on. I have been advised to bring proceedings to force HM Passport office to provide me with a passport. However, this will cost money, which I do not have.
Accountability in such a situation should be a right but cuts in legal aid mean without funding and the selflessness of pro - bono legal counsel many cases like mine are simply not pursued. In my experience, complaints procedures are set up to dismiss complaints not to resolve them. Suing being the only viable option, in most situations. My experience has shown me that this means the least privileged and most vulnerable in society find access to justice a major obstacle.
I count myself fortunate to find legal representation that understand the complex issues I face. I do however require funding to help right these wrongs and will deeply appreciate any assistance anyone can offer.
Thank you for your anticipated support.
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Femi Adenuga
Aug. 21, 2018
Institutionalised Discrimination @HMPO 4 year passport renewal
After the intervention of Andrew Buchan of Cloisters Chambers I received my passport after 4 years of inexplicable delay. The 'efforts' of Rt Hon David Lammy MP at the insistence of Andrew Buchan came 4 years too late.
The only excuses were false allegations that I was confrontational and failed to answer questions at my interview. I had written and notified the passport office prior to the interview that I did not have most of the documents listed. At the interview I was informed a few minutes into the interview that since I had not provided the oppressive list of documents in update 1 the interview could not continue.
After the intervention of legal counsel I was asked to resubmit my application. I provided a photocopy of the passport I sent in for renewal in the first place and the initial application was 'reviewed'. Even this process was completed with begrudging bureaucracy and contradictions.
It is most unfortunate that this type of institutionalised discrimination goes unchecked in the UK. HMPO is not the only place where this problem erodes human rights/civil liberties on a daily basis in a country that is quick to point fingers at other countries when it comes to human rights.
I have essentially been trapped in the UK for the past 4 years. It is worthy to note that I had managed to salvage my career in the past by travelling to Singapore to work. The confiscated passport meant the false conviction recorded against myself by the Metropolitan Police was able to completely destroy my career and I could not mitigate the problem by leaving the country to seek employment abroad as I had in the past.
My deepest gratitude to Andrew Buchan of Cloisters Chambers for his valued legal counsel.
Femi Adenuga
April 28, 2018
The list of documents for my passport renewal
I have been asked by HMPO to produce a list of 18 documents some more bizarre than others which include;
- Original Birth Certificate
- Original Marriage Certificate
- Original School/College/University Certificates & Reports
- Historical Health Card
- Driving License
- Historical Household Bills
- Bank Cards
- Bank/Building Society Books & Letters
- Tenancy Agreements/Mortgage Contracts
- DWP Benefit books/letters
- Insurance Assurance Policies
- Historical Wage Slips/P45/P60s
- Historical Family photograph includes you
- All previous passports you have held or been included in (including non-British passports)
- Passport left UK at age 10
- Parents passport at time of your birth
- Any documents at time of your birth
Please note that this is not comprehensive and you may be asked to provide further documents if necessary.
Femi Adenuga
April 28, 2018
Andrew Buchan is my direct access Barrister for my case(s).
Andrew Buchan is my direct access Barrister and legal counsel for my case(s). He embodies the corporate charter of Cloisters Chambers which is; Compelling Advocacy - Astute Advice - Exceptional Client Care. I could not possibly ask for better representation.
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