Man seeks asylum in Canada over alleged persecution linked to sexual orientation

A Nigerian born on March 3, 1973, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Moruff Olanipekun Alaba, has applied for refugee protection in Canada, claiming he fears persecution from authorities and members of his community due to his bisexual orientation.

In a personal account submitted in support of his asylum claim, Moruff said he is married and previously lived at Ogundipo Street, Ibadan, before leaving Nigeria. 

He alleged that his return to Nigeria would expose him to risks of arrest, torture, and other forms of persecution because of his sexual orientation, which he said he discovered in his late twenties.

Moruff stated that he gradually became aware of his attraction to members of the same sex while living in Nigeria, a development he said he struggled with due to the country’s legal and social stance on homosexuality, which he described as widely stigmatised and criminalised.

He further claimed that he later entered into a same-sex relationship in 2022 after meeting a cleric during a church programme in Ibadan.

According to him, the relationship developed privately over time but later became the subject of suspicion within their social environment.

Moruff alleged that the relationship eventually drew public attention, leading to a violent incident in which a crowd reportedly stormed the cleric’s residence, assaulted him, and forced him to flee. 

He said he sustained injuries during the attack, while his partner escaped through a window.

He also claimed that following the incident, he went into hiding due to fear for his safety, while his partner reportedly left the country.

Moruff further stated that he learned from a family member that Nigerian police had visited his residence and were searching for him in connection with allegations relating to homosexuality.

According to his account, he left Nigeria and arrived in Canada on March 4, 2024, where he subsequently informed his family of his arrival.

He said he was told that authorities continued to seek him and that legal action had been taken against individuals linked to the incident.

Moruff is now appealing to Canadian authorities for protection, stating that returning to Nigeria would expose him to arrest and imprisonment under laws criminalising same-sex relationships, as well as threats from members of his community.

Canadian immigration authorities have not publicly commented on the case.