The Canadian government has deported Pastor Lucky Bidemi Olorunfemi, a cleric from Ondo State, after investigations revealed that he allegedly paid Nigerian police officers to declare him wanted in order to secure asylum in Canada.
According to reports, Olorunfemi orchestrated the false criminal alert to present himself as a victim of political and religious persecution, a tactic meant to bolster his asylum claim.
Canadian authorities reportedly uncovered inconsistencies in his story during a routine background verification, leading to an inquiry that exposed his arrangement with some officers in Nigeria.
The pastor, who had been living in Canada for several months pending the outcome of his asylum application, was subsequently arrested, detained, and deported back to Nigeria.
Sources said the Nigerian authorities have also launched internal investigations to identify and discipline the police officers involved in the fraudulent declaration.
Olorunfemi’s deportation has sparked discussions online about the rising cases of Nigerians fabricating persecution claims to obtain asylum abroad.