Michael Ajibode: “It is a joy for me to finally be able to start working again.” Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Three years to the day after losing his job amid false accusations, Michael Ajibode has at last been granted a fresh work permit.

“I finally have a sense of belonging. I contributed a lot and this is my home. I can now feel I am part of this society,” he told Times of Malta right after hearing he could start work next week.

The 40-year-old Nigerian came to Malta legally 10 years ago. He got married, settled down, found a job and paid taxes, but his experience turned sour after four years and eight months when his wife threw him out over abuse allegations that were never substantiated.

This prevented Mr Ajibode from acquiring citizenship. However, he was allowed to remain in the country to fight the annulment proceedings instituted by his wife, who had already been married twice before.

Annulment was refused, even on appeal, but during his ordeal Mr Ajibode faced criminal charges of theft after allegations made by the couple’s mechanic. The charges cost Mr Ajibode a job at Methode Electronics as a material handler but he was promised reinstatement if he managed to clear his name.

Mr Ajibode was acquitted of all charges in April when CCTV footage submitted as proof turned out to be edited.

However, his ordeal did not stop there. After dealing with the courts, he now had to deal with government bureaucracy to regularise his position. Since he never acquired citizenship, he was still treated like a third country national despite having spent so much time in the country.

“I would be better off if I came to the country illegally,” Mr Ajibode told Times of Malta last week when he recounted his struggle to persuade the Employment and Training Corporation to renew his work permit.

The ETC originally said the law required Methode to prove they needed to employ Mr Ajibode over any other EU citizen. However, the case was re-evaluated due to the exceptional circumstances and, following approval by the immigration police, the permit was issued yesterday.

“I don’t know how to explain my excitement. It makes you really sad when people make you feel like you are not part of society,” he said, recounting the battles he faced dealing with one government entity after another.

I don’t know how to explain my excitement

Mr Ajibode spent the past three years living from hand to mouth, borrowing some €6,000 from generous friends whom he now plans to repay.

“It is a joy for me to finally be able to start working again... I look forward to this certainty instead of waking up every day and not knowing what will become of me,” he said.

Now that he has been granted a one-year work permit, Mr Ajibode hopes he will not continue to face the same bureaucratic ordeal when it comes to his long-term residence, which he feels he has earned over the years.