Opinion ID: 621590
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Professor Mitchell’s and Oshodi’s Testimony

Text: Professor Mitchell, a Nigerian expert, testified that “a member of NANS who has been in political exile and who is 742 OSHODI v. HOLDER regarded as being an opponent of the Nigerian government would likely be detained and tortured should he be returned.” Professor Mitchell noted that a member of the UPN “wouldn’t have nearly the same difficulty he would be [sic] as a member of NANS”, but that it would be “horrific” for Oshodi to return to Nigeria based on “the treatment of people who have been in detention, especially who return under those circumstances under a warrant . . .” When questioned about Oshodi’s father, Professor Mitchell stated that he “could be mistaken”, but he believed Oshodi’s father was living in “southern California”. When Oshodi began to testify regarding his political involvement and the political rally he attended, the IJ told Oshodi he had read Oshodi’s application and did not need Oshodi’s testimony “line by line”. Oshodi then testified about his political activities, and that he believed he would “be tortured, detained, [and] most likely killed” if he returned to Nigeria. During cross-examination, Oshodi stated that his father was deceased, and that he signed the sworn statement stating that his father was involved in politics instead of his “granddad” because he was rushed. When asked about why his name was not on the deed to the Nigerian property he said was confiscated, Oshodi answered that the “deed never transferred to [his] name”, but he paid taxes on the property and received income from it. On re-direct examination, Oshodi explained that he used aliases to “hide [his] identity from Nigerians”, and that his last name is well known in Nigeria. When questioned by the IJ, Oshodi stated that his father had been “back and forth” from Nigeria, that he only listed three siblings on his application because “some of [his siblings] are half brothers”, and that Larry, his half-brother, was in court during the removal proceedings, but did not submit a statement to the court. OSHODI v. HOLDER 743