NiDCOM defends claim about Nigerian detained in India for visa overstay

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has refuted claims that it fabricated details regarding the detention of a Nigerian national, Ekene Vitus Chukwuma, in India. NiDCOM clarified that Chukwuma had an expired Nigerian passport, which expired in 2020, and remained in India after being granted the opportunity to return home.

The commission addressed an article that quoted Chukwuma denying the NiDCOM's previous account, including his wife and three children returning to Nigeria while he stayed in India for business. The commission stated that Chukwuma was detained at a deportation camp in Delhi since December 2025 and did not receive an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) until May 2026, six months after his arrest.

NiDCOM emphasized that Chukwuma's immigration status could not be overlooked in assessing his case, noting that his passport had expired six years prior and he was in India without valid documents, which constituted a visa overstay. The commission criticized the article for presenting Chukwuma as a victim without addressing his immigration status, stating that such a portrayal stereotypes law-abiding Nigerians who travel and live abroad legally.

NiDCOM called on Nigerians living abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries and urged regular migration. They urged Nigerians in India to utilize the Emergency Travel Certificate when available and to cooperate with deportation procedures through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. NiDCOM reiterated its commitment to addressing genuine cases involving Nigerians in distress abroad and urged Nigerians to observe the laws of their host countries.