The end: Isa Muazu appeal refused
Supporters of Isa Muazu ran out of options to prevent his deportation this evening, after the court of appeal refused his case.
The asylum seeker is due to be forcibly removed immediately on a chartered flight along with several other Nigerians.
Lawyers told Politics.co.uk they were "devastated" for Muazu, who now faces being returned to his home country despite reported threats from Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
In a desperate final bid to halt the deportation, Liberal Democrat Lord Roberts of Llandudno, who has been central to the campaign to secure the Nigerian's release, called on
Theresa May to have a last-minute change of heart and allow Muazu to stay in the UK.
"Isa is one of thousands of men, women and children incarcerated in immigration detention centres around the UK," he said.
"The UK is one of the few countries in the world that has no time limit on the length of time a migrant can be detained for.
"Given this – and the high death rate – it is not surprising that immigration detention is being dubbed by campaigners as the 'UK's death row'."
Lawyers had just under 12 hours to appeal since he lost his judicial review this morning.
The decision brings to an end a protracted legal battle which saw the hunger striker originally deported last month despite a doctor's report saying he could not stand or see and was unfit to fly.
He returned to the UK several hours later at a cost to the taxpayer of up to £180,000, after the plane was refused landing permission due to the Home Office's failure to fill out the necessary paperwork.
The asylum seeker became something of a cause celebre among celebrities and human rights campaigners, who have been horrified by the Home Office decision to deport the Nigerian despite clear signs he might not have survived the flight.
Comedian Frankie Boyle, Harry Potter star Roger Lloyd-Pack, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg and many others have signed a letter demanding Theresa May release Muazu.
