OA186702012 & OA186712012

Faahiye Garceesaan Said (formerly Abdirahman Sharif Said), the Appellants� father, gave oral evidence and confirmed his identity and address and adopted his written witness statements.

Cross-examined by Mr Richards Mr Said agreed that he obtained indefinite leave to remain in 2004 and is now a British citizen. He said that he went to Ethiopia at the beginning of 2006 where he met Zaynab Abdirahman Farah, the Appellants� mother. She was living with Muaad and with family friends, Saynab Ibrahim Ali and Ferdousa Mohamed. Both are ladies aged about 40. Saynab is from the same tribe as Mr Said. When he met Zaynab Mr Said said that he was married but it was not a good relationship and he was about to divorce. He stayed in Ethiopia for about 3 months.

Asked why Riqiya�s entry clearance application gave her date of birth as 1 January 2006 Mr Said said that when they applied for entry clearance for the children his wife was sick and they guessed the dates of birth. They know the correct dates now because he traced back his journey and he has met a few people who told him.

Mr Said said that he next travelled to Ethiopia at the beginning of 2007 and stayed for a few months but only spent one week with Zaynab before going to Diredawa. He did not stay with Zaynab longer because she was told that her previous husband was still alive so Mr Said had to go. He agreed that in this one week period Zaynab conceived his child. He said that her husband sponsored her to come to the United Kingdom and she then found out that she was pregnant by Mr Said.

Mr Said thought that Zaynab and her first husband got back in touch with each other because Mohamed Sharif would have told them. Mr Sharif knows Saynab and Ferdousa and they told Mr Sharif one week before Mr Said went back.