Gardaí drop 'decuplet' deportation obstruction case

The Irish police force, Gardaí, has withdrawn the first-ever prosecution for obstructing deportation. The case involved Sam Okwuoha, a 28-year-old Nigerian man who had claimed he was a "decuplet" and that his arrest was a mistake involving one of his nine identical brothers. Okwuoha had been subject to deportation proceedings since January and had been in custody for months.

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I am not the person

The case was set for a pre-trial hearing at Dublin District Court, but it did not proceed after the prosecution applied to strike out the charge. Okwuoha had denied the accusation, which stemmed from a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) investigation. He was accused of obstructing deportation on March 6 at Dublin Airport, following a deportation order signed by the Minister of Justice on January 6.

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It is the first time we have ever used it.

During earlier proceedings, the court heard that Okwuoha insisted he was not the person authorities were looking for. Bail was denied in March. GNIB Detective Garda Graham Dillon had stated that the charge was unprecedented and that the level of resistance was unusual. He expressed 100% confidence in their identification, which he claimed was confirmed by legitimate authorities.

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I suppose the level of resistance is unusual.

The court was also told that Okwuoha maintained he had identical brothers and had "swapped places" with one to come to Ireland. Detective Garda Dillon believed Okwuoha would not appear in court if granted bail, citing a history of failing to attend proceedings and providing different names, dates of birth, and identities. The charge is a summary offense, punishable by up to a 12-month sentence and a fine.

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We are 100% confident.