A convicted sex offender facing deportation from Canada made a shocking claim to police officers during his arrest, asserting that Canadian laws do not apply to him. This statement came after he was apprehended for sexually assaulting an Indigenous woman in Winnipeg, with Crown attorneys highlighting his disregard for human dignity.
Defiant Statement to Authorities
Gilbert Nuamah, a 37-year-old man originally from Ghana, was arrested by Winnipeg police following a violent incident in December 2025. According to court documents, Nuamah told officers during his arrest, "I'm not even a Canadian citizen... so your laws don't apply to me." This defiant declaration came as police responded to a distress call involving the sexual assault of an Indigenous woman.
Violent Assault and Threats
The incident occurred on December 27, 2025, when Nuamah, the victim, and others were drinking at his Winnipeg residence. When the victim attempted to leave by calling her brother for assistance, Nuamah became enraged. He forcibly dragged her to a bedroom, locked the door, and sexually assaulted her while others in the home misled her brother about her whereabouts.
When police arrived and knocked on the bedroom door, Nuamah reportedly yelled, "F*** off and mind your own business... I need five more minutes." Officers eventually broke down the door to find Nuamah partially naked and the victim cowering in a corner, visibly traumatized.
Chilling Threats Against the Victim
After his arrest, Nuamah made several disturbing statements to police. While being transported in a police cruiser, he asked officers, "Is it illegal to take a drunk s**** home from the bar and try to f*** her?" Even more alarming were his subsequent threats against the victim, vowing to "take (the victim) and some other s****s out to the Perimeter and let them freeze" - a reference to Winnipeg's Perimeter Highway where temperatures can drop to dangerous levels in winter.
Legal Proceedings and Deportation Status
Nuamah pleaded guilty in February to one count each of sexual assault and forcible confinement. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing at a future date. Crown attorney Laura Martin emphasized the gravity of his actions during court proceedings, stating, "He clearly does not view Indigenous women as people."
Martin further connected the case to broader national concerns, noting, "The state of our country in terms of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is a state of crisis, and this is someone who is actively telling this court he wants to participate in that."
Immigration History and Legal Status
Nuamah had previously lived in the United States before arriving in Canada in 2017. At the time of his arrest for the Winnipeg sexual assault, he was living illegally in Canada and had already been ordered deported. He had been released on bail but was subsequently taken back into custody when he failed to surrender his passport as required.
During his January bail hearing, Crown attorney Martin expressed significant concerns about community safety, particularly for vulnerable Indigenous women, and warned that Nuamah posed a flight risk. His case highlights ongoing challenges in Canada's immigration enforcement and protection of vulnerable populations.
Broader Context and Implications
This case emerges against the backdrop of Canada's ongoing reckoning with violence against Indigenous women and girls. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has documented systemic failures in protecting Indigenous women, making Nuamah's statements and actions particularly troubling to legal authorities.
The incident also raises questions about how Canada handles non-citizens who commit serious crimes while in the country illegally. With Nuamah facing both criminal sentencing and deportation proceedings, the case represents a complex intersection of criminal law and immigration enforcement.
