Fraud suspect was deported 8 times
By DON PEAT
The Toronto Sun
March 11, 2008
The Nigerian man arrested after Toronto Police uncovered a multi-million fraud scheme has been kicked out of the country eight times since his failed refugee claim almost 20 years ago. But government officials stressed yesterday the border is secure.
Edmund Ezemo, 39, has at least 18 aliases on file according to his fingerprints and was first banned from Canada in 1992, says the Canada Border Services Agency.
Ezemo has been held in detention centres on immigration holds and also has a criminal record, CBSA's Anna Pape said.
He first arrived in Canada in July 1991 claiming refugee status. That was denied leading to his first of eight deportations –December 1992, September 1994, October 1995, April 1997, June 1998, June 1999, April 2001 and April 2006.
Pape said Ezemo didn't re-enter the country under his own name and officials are investigating how he got back into Canada.
“(He) made his way back, obviously using fraudulent passports and things like that,” Toronto Police Supt. Ron Taverner said.
“Obviously, you're dealing with a person that was able to commit frauds on many fronts,” Pape said. “At this point it has become apparent that charges were warranted.”
The charge for illegally entering the country can carry up to $100,000 fine and five years in jail, she said.
Pape called Ezemo's repeated entries an “extreme situation” and stressed his criminal charges will take priority over any deportation.
“The person has been caught, he will be dealt with,” she said.
“We need to balance between facilitating the flow of legitimate people with those not permitted to enter.”
