Nigerian man faces deportation for marrying 79-year-old woman for Canadian residency
A Canadian judge has ruled that a 29-year-old Nigerian man must be deported after it was determined his marriage to 79-year-old Canadian woman Doreen Johnson was a sham intended to secure permanent residency in Canada.
According to court documents reviewed by Peoples Gazette, the legal dispute began last year when Johnson applied to sponsor her Nigerian spouse for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner category.
The couple had married in January 2020, but the husband only arrived in Canada in February 2023.
In March 2024, the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) rejected Johnson’s sponsorship application, citing evidence that the marriage was primarily contracted to gain immigration benefits.
The decision was later amended on March 28, 2024.
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The IAD’s ruling noted that during a 2023 interview, the husband showed little knowledge of key details about Johnson’s life despite being married for over three years.
He was unable to answer basic questions about her medical history or family, including the number of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren she had.
This led visa officers to conclude the marriage was not genuine but rather a scheme to alleviate poverty.
Johnson challenged the decision with a judicial review request to the Federal Court in Ottawa. However, Justice Mandy Aylen dismissed the appeal on April 14, 2025, supporting the IAD’s findings.
In her judgment, Justice Aylen emphasised that a marriage entered into primarily for immigration advantages is flawed, even if it later becomes genuine.
She pointed to Johnson’s own admission that marriage was the easiest way to bring her husband from Nigeria to Canada.
The judge stated, “A marriage entered into for the purpose of acquiring a status or privilege will be flawed even if it subsequently becomes genuine.
“As well, a marriage that is validly entered into can become flawed for immigration purposes if it loses its genuineness.”
She further explained the link between a marriage’s authenticity and the couple’s motivation, saying, “The stronger the evidence regarding the genuineness of the marriage, the less likely it is that it was entered into primarily to obtain an immigration advantage.
“Conversely, the more compelling the proof that the couple was seeking immigration status, the more likely it will be that the marriage was not genuine.”
The ruling cleared the way for the Nigerian man’s deportation, reinforcing Canada’s stance against fraudulent marriages intended to bypass immigration laws.
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