A MAN who was told his marriage was a sham is due to challenge immigration bosses -- after spending more than £1,000 on phone calls to his bride in a year.

Robin Howarth will go to court in less than a fortnight to try and overturn a decision by the British High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria, to refuse his wife, Justina, a settlement Visa for the UK.

Today he revealed the cost of his battle to be with his wife has passed the £10,000 mark -- including more than £1,000 on calls just to keep in contact with her.

The couple married on Valentine's Day 2000 and had hoped to be living together above Robin's off-licence and general store in Elmfield Street, Church, within months.

But after three trips to Lagos, costing more than £1,500 a time, to sit through interviews with his wife before immigration officials, Robin was told his wife, who he has known since he worked in the country in 1984, would not be allowed to come and live in this country.

Immigration officials believed the couple would not live as man and wife when they arrived in Britain, despite the fact Robin has renamed his shop to include Justina's name.

Robin now faces appearing before a review panel without a solicitor because he cannot afford their fees.

He said today: "Costing it all up, it has worked out I have spent £10,000 and my wife still isn't in this country.

"I was ringing her every few days at first, but I was getting massive phone bills for calls charged at £1 per minute so I have had to ration it, first to once a week and now to once a fortnight, which makes things even worse for us. I have only been able to visit her twice since we got married and that costs £1,500 each time, because I need to pay to keep my shop open.

"She is now my wife and I have to support her and I send money out to her.

But every time we talk, she just cries all the time. She is a Catholic woman and nothing offends her more than being told people don't believe she has married for anything other than love.

"We love each other and want to be together."

Robin was told a year ago Justina could not come to Britain. He found out why in August and has been fighting to overturn the decision ever since.

He has won the support of Hyndburn MP Greg Pope.

Robin will meet immigration staff in Trafford magistrates court on April 10, where a review panel will study his case. They will give him a decision within three months.

Robin first met Justina in 1984 when he was working for Unilever in Nigeria. At the time, he was married to ex-wife Phyliss. He said he remained in contact with Justina when he returned to Britain, and only struck up a relationship with her after splitting up with Phyliss.

The couple married in February, 16 years after they first met. He claimed he had proposed to her 20 months earlier. Locals in Church have signed a petition supporting her case and Phyliss has written a letter of support.

In a letter to Greg Pope last year, the joint entry clearance service wrote: "There was little evidence of intervening devotion presented at Mrs Howarth's interview and she was unable to answer basic questions about her husband.

"The entry clearance manager has reviewed the case but has decided he is unable to overturn the ECO's decision."