A Canadian federal court has ordered the deportation of a Nigerian pastor after ruling he used fraudulent documents, including a bribed police declaration, to support a false asylum claim. The case highlights the strict scrutiny applied to refugee applications amid broader trends showing Canada has both approved and denied thousands of Nigerian claims this year.
Justice McHaffie of the Federal Court in Toronto upheld the denial of asylum to Lucky Bidemi Olorunfemi on October 16, 2025. The court found his supporting documents showed clear signs of fraud and bribery .
Olorunfemi, who claimed to be a pastor from Akure in Ondo state, had sought refugee status in 2023. He told officials his pro-LGBTQ teachings and acceptance of gay congregants had angered "Muslim Jihadis" who threatened his life. He claimed these opponents burned his church and chased him to a police station in March 2022, forcing him into hiding before he fled to Canada .
To support his story, Olorunfemi submitted four key documents. These included a newspaper report about the alleged attempt on his life, a Nigerian police invitation for questioning dated April 2022, a medical report for his wife following an attack, and a wanted poster issued by the Oodua Peoples Congress .
The Refugee Protection Division found all these documents unreliable. They noted the newspaper report was "riddled with spelling and grammatical errors" and used language nearly identical to Olorunfemi's own account. The judge described it as likely "brown envelope journalism" - a term referring to paid-for or fabricated news stories .
The wanted poster contained multiple misspellings, writing "Oodua" as "Odoua" and "Yoruba" as "youruba." It also featured Olorunfemi's picture but identified him under a different name entirely. Unlike genuine Nigerian police documents, it lacked any contact information .
The medical report submitted contained only a postal address and Gmail address but no phone number. The police invitation letter similarly showed signs of being fabricated .
Court records show Olorunfemi claimed limited English skills during proceedings. This assertion was undermined when he "responded to his own counsel in flawless spoken English" during hearings .
The judge dismissed Olorunfemi's request to review his asylum denial. He ruled the pastor had built his case on fraudulent documents and failed to provide credible reasons to counter the evidence against him. The court established only one factual claim in the case - that Olorunfemi was indeed Nigerian, based on his passport and testimony .
This deportation order comes alongside new data showing Canada has rejected 1,596 asylum applications from Nigerians between January and August 2025. During this same period, however, Canada approved 2,292 Nigerian claims, resulting in an approval rate of 65 percent .
Nigeria remains one of the top sources of asylum seekers in Canada, alongside Mexico, India, Haiti and Colombia. Immigration experts link this trend to insecurity caused by groups like Boko Haram and ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria .
Most Nigerian asylum claimants settle in Ontario and Alberta provinces. Under Canadian law, refugee status is granted to those who meet the United Nations definition of a refugee - someone with a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group .
Canadian law also protects people who face risks such as torture, threats to life, or cruel treatment if returned to their home country. Recognized social groups include women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living with HIV/AIDS .
The recent statistics show a significant shift from previous years. Between 2013 and 2024, Canada denied 13,171 Nigerian asylum applications while accepting 10,580. Rejections peaked in 2019 when 3,951 Nigerian claims were turned down .
The 65% approval rate for Nigerian claimants in 2025 is higher than in previous years. In 2024, Canada denied 811 Nigerian claims while approving 2,230 .
Refugee claims in Canada typically begin when immigrants alert border officials at entry points or report to immigration officers. If found eligible, the claim is referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for decision .
Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation commented on the broader trend of Nigerian asylum claims. She noted that many Nigerians misunderstand refugee laws, leading to rejections. "Documentation is crucial," she said. "Coming irregularly gets you rejected. But migration must be safe, orderly and regular, and those truly in need of protection should be protected" .
The Olorunfemi case demonstrates Canada's rigorous approach to examining asylum documents. The court systematically identified inconsistencies in each piece of evidence presented .
Legal professionals note that successful asylum claims require strong supporting evidence. This includes credible personal testimony, consistent documentation, and alignment with verified country condition reports .
While Canada continues to grant protection to thousands of Nigerians facing genuine persecution, the deportation of Olorunfemi shows fraudulent claims face strict scrutiny and consequence.