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Diasporia News of Friday, 12 May 2006

Source: News Journal

Born in Ghana, Nigeria & Florida

A 34-year-old illegal immigrant, who claimed in a US federal court that he recently learned he was a U.S. citizen, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison.

Upon completion of his prison sentence, Gbeke Awala will be deported to Africa.

Before sentencing, Awala again proclaimed he was born in Florida, even though the prosecutor said his passport lists his nation of birth as Ghana and his birth certificate says Nigeria.

?I was born in this country your honor,? Awala told U.S. District Judge Kent A. Jordan.

Although he almost started crying and needed to be silenced a few times during the hearing in U.S. District Court, Awala did not act out like he did during trial in January.

During that proceeding, Awala was forcibly removed from the courtroom after he flung papers at the jury and cried for his mother.