§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Mr. Festus Otono, now in Her Majesty's Prison, Haslar, Gosport, has been detained for one and a half years; and when they expect his application for political asylum to be determined.
§ Baroness BlatchThe decision to detain Mr. Otono was taken only after careful consideration of all the circumstances and only when the Immigration Service were not satisfied that he would comply with any terms of temporary admission. Mr. Otono made a bail application on 22nd March 1996, and the date for a bail hearing has yet to be set.
Mr. Otono was refused asylum in the United Kingdom on 30th January 1995. His appeal was heard by a special adjudicator on 29th January 1996 and was dismissed on 12th February 1996. At a tribunal hearing on 22nd March 1996, the appeal was remitted for a further hearing before a special adjudicator. A date for the appeal hearing has yet to be set.