Somali robber sues us for £50k because he had ‘nightmares’

Somali robber sues us for £50k because he had 'nightmares'
A SHAMELESS Somali robber who claims a deportation attempt gave him nightmares is trying to get £50,000 from taxpayers.
By: Anil DawarPublished: Tue, February 26, 2013



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A UK Border Agency source said the agency was "actively seeking to get rid of him"

Abdirahman Ajab wants the cash for "mental problems" he claims to have suffered after being held at an immigration centre for eight months.

Now living rent-free in a council flat in Tower Hamlets, east London, Ajab, 30, has racked up two convictions for robbery and another for false imprisonment since coming to Britain in 1999.

Despite his criminal history a High Court judge allowed him to stay because his life was said to be in danger if he returned to his native country.

Yesterday the thug admitted he wanted the cash to start a new life in Somalia and bizarrely said immigration officials were preventing him from leaving.

The migrant's brazen attempt to pocket public cash and drag the Government into a costly court battle provoked anger among campaigners.

MEP Gerard Batten said: "We are mugs. Britain has become the rip off centre of the world.

"It's like we have a big sign up at the airport saying 'come on in and fleece us'.

"We should be free to kick this guy out without giving him a penny. He's obviously just here for the cash and will leave as soon as he gets it."

Matthew Sinclair, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be disgusted that Ajab is able to pursue an action against the Government. If anyone has really suffered here, it is his victims. It should be far easier for the Government to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes.

"The court time taken up with cases like this ends up costing taxpayers dear."

Ajab is claiming compensation for being held at an immigration centre while officers battled to deport him.

He qualified for automatic deportation because of the seriousness of his crimes.

Officials would have refused to release him after he finished his jail term because he was seen as a danger to the public and there was a risk he would abscond.

However, Ajab was freed after winning his legal bid to stay.

The UK Border Agency paid out £4million in compensation in 2010 for 152 similar cases.

In one incident a Ugandan man was awarded £110,000 after the court ruled he had been unlawfully detained for 10 months.


We are mugs. Britain has become the rip off centre of the world

MEP Gerard Batten

Hate preacher Abu Qatada has said he is planning to sue Britain for £10million after being held in jail for eight years during the Home Office's decade-long fight to get him out of the country.

Yesterday, Ajab said: "The Government have been doing me bad for years. It's giving me mental problems. It's given me nightmares. They owe me, man."

Ajab, who insists he wants to return to Somalia, said he would use any payout to buy land and set himself up in business.

A Home Office spokesman said: "There is nothing stopping him from leaving Britain. He's more than welcome to leave."

A UK Border Agency source said the agency was "actively seeking to get rid of him", including looking at revoking his indefinite leave to remain.