By Johnson Babalola
He looked frail as he sat on a couch in my office, downcast. I had never met him, but somehow, he looked familiar. I asked him to tell me about his Nigerian journey. He calmly told me where he was born, where he schooled, and where he worked. No, our paths had never crossed. Now they had.
“How can I help you?” I asked him.
“Oyinbo ti baye mi je sir” (The ‘white’ has messed up my life, sir), he said.
“Don’t say that, Mr. GY. You cannot be negative about a whole race like that. How would you feel if someone had referenced the Black race collectively like that?” I responded.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m just frustrated. I came to Canada in 2016 and made a refugee claim, which was refused. I changed counsel, who filed an appeal on my behalf. It was refused. I changed counsel again and went to Federal Court. It was refused. I have used different lawyers for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment as well as a humanitarian and compassionate application. All refused. Now, I have two days to leave the country,” he said in a shaky voice.
I listened attentively, avoiding interrupting him.
“I am 60 years old, sir. I was doing well in Nigeria, but I faced risks in the country. I have been doing three jobs here, and I have no savings. I have not seen my wife and children in eight years. I have all kinds of medical ailments, ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes and kidney issues. I am tired.”
He paused as if he was catching his breath. Tears started rolling down his cheeks.
I asked if he wanted a glass of water, and he nodded. I went to the kitchen to get him a tissue paper and a glass of water. He smiled and was thankful. I told him to take his time while I reviewed his documents.
After about 15 minutes, he continued.
“Funny thing is, I was given your name and another Nigerian lawyer when I first arrived, but a friend told me white lawyers were better than Black lawyers. You are the first Black lawyer I would speak with. Thank you for meeting with me for free to hear my story. I am just confused and tired.” He sighed.
“Bro, I have read your file. Your lawyers gave it their best. Please drop the idea that competence is based on race, and as I said before, don’t link your unsuccessful applications to anyone’s race. It is not right,” I calmly explained.
“Thank you, sir. I am just tired and confused. I miss my family. My agent of persecution is dead, and I am no longer in danger back home. I will, however, face hardships. I have no money, I will struggle to pay rent, feed my family, and have access to decent medical treatment. I only have $2,000 which I can give to you as part of your legal fees. What should I do, sir?” he pleaded.
“No, I won’t take your money. First, you have to comply with the directive of the government to report for removal unless you want to challenge that in court. You don’t have a lot of time, though, and given that you have no money, you should contact Legal Aid to assist you. If you are approved for a Legal Aid certificate, you can retain a lawyer to assist you. The truth, though, is that it might be difficult to get a lawyer who is available given it is 3pm on a Friday and your removal is on a Sunday. The Court if you make it that far might not hear it either as it may be determined to be a last minute application. Your matter is also not very meritorious,” I explained to him.
He took a deep breath and told me quietly but firmly, “I am tired of fighting, sir. I am on seven different medications. I will return home. If I have to die, let me be with my family. My wife has always encouraged me to return home, assuring me that we would be okay.”
“Very well, Mr. GY. Think about it overnight, inform your wife, and make an informed decision. I wish you peace and the very best in your decision.”
As he stood and started to leave, he came close to me, shook my hand firmly, and said, “Thank you for giving me an audience. Nobody has ever given me that opportunity since I came here. It was always about money and docketing. I am really depressed.” He then departed.
I did not hear from GY the next day. The day after, I called to check on him.
“Thank you for checking on me, sir. I am sorry I did not call back. I was just overwhelmed. I feel like I have wasted the last eight years of my life. I am at the airport now anyway. I am heading back. I will call you once I am settled,” he said as he dropped the phone.
It was a surreal moment for me, but I was convinced he had made the right decision.
Upon his arrival in Nigeria, he called me crying. I asked what had happened.
He said he got the biggest surprise of his life upon arrival. His wife had kept some secrets from him. She had used part of the money he was sending home for the family’s upkeep to build a four-bedroom bungalow on a piece of land they had bought before he left for Canada. She had bought a used car and had a healthy amount of money in the bank for him to start a business. He was full of prayers for his wife.
I was very happy for him and his family.
We kept in touch, and three months after he left for Nigeria, he called to inform me that his health was almost back to normal. His blood pressure was stable, he no longer had diabetes, and he was off medication.
I asked him what had happened.
He said his wife and children had taken good care of him. He was fed healthy organic food, he was sleeping at least 10 hours a day, he had no chores, and he was at peace. His wife told him not to think about work or business for at least a year.
_”God has blessed me with a good family. My wife was very prudent. Thank you for not giving me false hope in Canada. I am glad I made the decision to return home. I have a fantastic doctor here who truly cares and checks on me regularly. I realized that my sojourn in Canada has not been in vain after all. God bless you, sir. I will call you next week.”_
As I dropped the phone, I smiled, thinking… _Life has a way of teaching us lessons in unexpected ways. GY had left Nigeria in search of safety and a better life, but in the end, he found true peace, health, and stability right where he started. His journey was not wasted—it was a path that led him back home, not as a failure, but as a man enriched by experience, love, and a newfound appreciation for what truly matters. Sometimes, the answers we seek are waiting for us in the very places we once left behind._
NB: Johnson Babalola is a Canadian immigration lawyer, author, writer, storyteller, and story-based leadership trainer. He is the Founder of JB Law & Life Compass (JBLLC), a mentorship platform for young lawyers, law students and other young professionals (IG: @jblifecompass). Follow him on Substack, Medium and IG @jbandthings/@jbdlaw; FB: https://www.facebook.com/jbandthings and www.johnsonbabalola.com/www.tpmattorneys.com_
*You can obtain a copy of his newly released book, REJECTED on Amazon, FriesenPress, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Nook Store etc.*
