By Zainab Bakare
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has denied allegations that it misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the detention of Nigerian, Ekene Vitus Chukwuma, in India.
The commission insisted that Chukwuma remained in India with an expired Nigerian passport after being given an opportunity to return to Nigeria.
In a post shared on X on Thursday, NiDCOM said Chukwuma’s passport expired in 2020 and that he was arrested in December 2025 for allegedly overstaying his visa.
The commission was reacting to a report quoting Chukwuma as disputing its earlier account of the case, including claims that his wife and three children had returned to Nigeria while he remained in India for business.
The report stated that Chukwuma had been detained at a deportation camp in Delhi since December 2025 and alleged that he did not receive an Emergency Travel Certificate, ETC, until May 2026.
Responding, NiDCOM said Chukwuma’s immigration status could not be ignored in assessing his case.
“His Nigerian passport expired in 2020 [six years ago]. Remaining in another country after that, without valid documents, to ‘do business’ is visa overstay. That is an offence,” the commission said.
NiDCOM also said Chukwuma had previously been issued an ETC by the Nigerian High Commission to enable him to return home during an amnesty period but allegedly did not use it.
According to the commission, the ETC later expired after Chukwuma was arrested and detained, while India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office remained responsible for deportation proceedings.
NiDCOM said the Nigerian High Commission had also requested another six-month amnesty for Nigerians residing and working illegally in India to leave without paying penalties.
The commission urged Nigerians living abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries, while reaffirming its commitment to assisting citizens facing genuine distress overseas.
