A MAN whose Nigerian wife has finally been allowed into Britain after a year of haggling today said he had been forced to put plans for her arrival on hold.

Robin Howarth was told last month that his wife Justina, whom he married in her native Nigeria on Valentine's Day last year, would be allowed into Britain after an immigration appeals hearing in Manchester ruled she should be given a permit to live in the UK.

The appeal adjudicator's decision ended a year of agony for Robin, who has been forced to spend more than £15,000 to remain in contact with Justina, flying out to see her several times and spending £1 for every minute they spend on the phone to each other.

The appeal adjudicator told Robin he could immediately started planning for Justina's arrival in the UK -- providing she gets her passport stamped.

But when his 37-year-old wife trekked from her home in the township of Aba across to Lagos, the Nigerian capital, to get her immigration papers stamped last week she was told to go away and return in three weeks.

The Home Office would not comment on the case today, but Robin, who runs a shop in Elmfield Street, Church, said: "It is annoying because it seems someone in Lagos is playing God.

"I sent out a copy of the adjudicator's decision by DHL to Justina but she also received a copy through the post which said she could go straight away to Lagos and get the stamp in her passport.

"But when she got there, they looked at the papers and told her to go away and come back in three weeks.

"It was upsetting for her because she has already been treated badly by these people.

"In my opinion, the people in Lagos are upset at being told they were wrong and are now making things difficult."

He added: "But we will wait. Justina is going back next week. Hopefully, she will be here soon."