News / International
Gamu Nhengu and family granted leave to remain in Scotland
29 Nov 2011 at 11:34hrs | Views
Former X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu has won her immigration fight to stay in the UK after the Home Office failed to overturn a court ruling.
The 19-year-old, her two brothers and her mother Nokuthula Ngazana, from Zimbabwe, had been refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office in February this year.
Gamu and her family, who live in Clackmannanshire, successfully appealed the original refusal by the UK Government agency, before the Home Office tried to overturn that decision and have the family deported.
On Tuesday, a judge at the Immigration Court in Glasgow refused the Home Office appeal on a point of law meaning Gamu and her family have been granted leave to remain in the country.
The Home Office has accused Gamu's mother, who was working as a nurse during the six years the family have spent in the UK, of wrongly claimed working tax credits. This is something that the family has repeatedly contested.
Lawyer Frances Farrell confirmed that the Home Office had failed to overturn the decision of the court to grant the family leave to remain in the UK.
She said: "My clients are delighted, this has come after such a long ordeal.
"The Home Office has a last resort appeal right to the Court of Session, but I hope they respect the judgment made today.
"My client has been granted leave to remain in the UK so now she and her family are able to get on with their lives and put this behind them."
Gamu did not make it into the final 12 of X Factor last year, despite gaining praise from the judges on the show.
More than 200,000 joined a Facebook campaign calling for the return of Gamu to the show, although she did not re-enter X Factor.
According to her official Twitter page, Gamu is due to release her first album next year, with the working title Melody is King.
The 19-year-old, her two brothers and her mother Nokuthula Ngazana, from Zimbabwe, had been refused leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office in February this year.
Gamu and her family, who live in Clackmannanshire, successfully appealed the original refusal by the UK Government agency, before the Home Office tried to overturn that decision and have the family deported.
On Tuesday, a judge at the Immigration Court in Glasgow refused the Home Office appeal on a point of law meaning Gamu and her family have been granted leave to remain in the country.
The Home Office has accused Gamu's mother, who was working as a nurse during the six years the family have spent in the UK, of wrongly claimed working tax credits. This is something that the family has repeatedly contested.
Lawyer Frances Farrell confirmed that the Home Office had failed to overturn the decision of the court to grant the family leave to remain in the UK.
She said: "My clients are delighted, this has come after such a long ordeal.
"The Home Office has a last resort appeal right to the Court of Session, but I hope they respect the judgment made today.
"My client has been granted leave to remain in the UK so now she and her family are able to get on with their lives and put this behind them."
Gamu did not make it into the final 12 of X Factor last year, despite gaining praise from the judges on the show.
More than 200,000 joined a Facebook campaign calling for the return of Gamu to the show, although she did not re-enter X Factor.
According to her official Twitter page, Gamu is due to release her first album next year, with the working title Melody is King.
Source - STV
