A 29-year-old Nigerian man has been ordered deported from Canada after a Canadian court ruled that his marriage to 79-year-old Doreen Johnson was primarily intended to gain immigration status.
The couple were married in January 2020, though the Nigerian man only arrived in Canada in February 2023.
Shortly after his arrival, Ms. Johnson submitted an application to sponsor her husband for permanent residency under Canada’s spousal sponsorship program.
Visa Officer Raises Doubts Over Marriage Authenticity
According to People’s Gazette, the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) ultimately denied the sponsorship application.
The IAD found that the marriage lacked genuineness and described it as a “poverty alleviation scheme.”
This means the marriage was seen as a way to improve the husband’s financial situation through gaining Canadian residency rather than a genuine relationship.
Husband Was Unable to Answer Basic Questions About Wife
During an interview with a visa officer in 2023, the husband was unable to answer basic questions about Ms. Johnson’s life, such as her medical history and the number of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
This raised suspicion that the marriage was entered into primarily for immigration purposes.
Federal Court Upholds IAD’s Decision
Displeased with the IAD ruling, Ms. Johnson brought the case to the Federal Court of Canada in Ottawa.
However, her application for judicial review was dismissed by Justice Mandy Aylen on April 14, 2025.
In her judgment, Justice Aylen reinforced the earlier decision and emphasized that a marriage intended to gain status, even if it later becomes genuine, is flawed under immigration law.
She wrote, “I am not satisfied that the applicant has established any basis for the court’s intervention. Accordingly, the application for judicial review shall be dismissed.”
Admission and How the Court Assesses Marriage Genuineness
The judge also pointed out that Ms. Johnson admitted the marriage was the easiest way to bring her husband to Canada, according to reports.
Justice Aylen explained that the court looks closely at two connected factors:
- How genuine the marriage is, and,
- The main reason for the marriage.
When there is strong evidence that the relationship is real, it makes it less likely that the marriage was only for immigration.
On the other hand, if the evidence shows that the main purpose was to gain immigration status, the marriage is considered not genuine.
Deportation Ordered
With the dismissal of the judicial review, the court’s decision stands, and the Nigerian man will be deported from Canada.
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