Nigerian student faces deportation after high-speed police chase

A Nigerian international student who led Winnipeg police on a high-speed chase last winter will face deportation after Manitoba's highest court rejected his attempt to appeal his sentence.

Efua Boniface Oribhabor sought to challenge his three-month jail term for fleeing from police, but Court of Appeal Justice Anne Turner denied his request for a deadline extension in a decision released January 8.

The case stems from an incident where Oribhabor crashed his vehicle following a high-speed chase through downtown Winnipeg's icy streets. 

Police arrested him after a foot chase, and he was convicted in April 2024.

After his July sentencing, Oribhabor had 30 days to file an appeal notice. 

Oribhabor waited until December 5 to request an extension, which was more than three months past the deadline.

In his application, Oribhabor claimed he had told his previous lawyer to file an appeal before beginning his jail term in July. 

After his September release, he said he found no appeal had been filed.

At that time, he looked for a new lawyer.

Justice Turner found these explanations insufficient, noting Oribhabor provided no evidence beyond his own statement about instructing his former lawyer. 

She also questioned why he waited over two months after his release to take action.

"While the accused asserts that he had a continuous intention to appeal, there is a dearth of evidence to support this claim," Turner wrote in her decision.

The conviction triggered deportation proceedings due to its severity. 

A flight from police carries a maximum 10-year sentence, qualifying it as a serious crime under immigration law.

Turner noted that even a reduced sentence would not affect Oribhabor's immigration status, as the conviction itself mandates a deportation hearing. 

She concluded there were no grounds for appeal.