The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has defended its account of the circumstances surrounding the detention of Nigerian citizen Ekene Vitus Chukwuma in India, insisting that his immigration status was a central factor in the case.
NiDCOM said Chukwuma was arrested in December 2025 for overstaying his visa and had remained in India with a Nigerian passport that expired in 2020. The commission made the clarification after reports emerged in which Chukwuma disputed parts of its earlier account of his detention.
According to NiDCOM, Chukwuma had previously been issued an Emergency Travel Certificate by the Nigerian High Commission in India to facilitate his return to Nigeria during an amnesty period. The commission said he did not use the document and instead remained in India to conduct business.
NiDCOM said Chukwuma had informed a consular officer by telephone that his wife and three children had returned to Nigeria while he remained in India. The commission maintained that he subsequently remained in the country without valid travel documentation.
The agency said the Emergency Travel Certificate later expired while Chukwuma was in detention. It explained that deportation proceedings are handled by India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office, which must clear detainees before they can be deported.
NiDCOM also said the Nigerian High Commission in India had requested another six-month amnesty period for Nigerians living or working illegally in the country. The proposed extension, according to the commission, would provide an opportunity for affected Nigerians to leave without paying penalties.
The commission's latest statement followed claims by Chukwuma that parts of its earlier account were inaccurate. He reportedly disputed the timing of his family's return to Nigeria and said he had been trying to obtain an Emergency Travel Certificate after being taken to a deportation facility.
Chukwuma also alleged that individuals claiming to be agents connected to India's immigration authorities demanded money from him before an Emergency Travel Certificate could be issued. That allegation has not been independently established, and NiDCOM's latest statement did not confirm the claim.
NiDCOM has rejected the suggestion that it misrepresented the case. In its latest response, the commission said Chukwuma's expired passport and alleged visa overstay could not be overlooked when discussing his detention.
The commission also urged Nigerians living abroad to comply with the immigration laws of their host countries, warning that irregular stay can lead to detention and deportation.
The case has attracted public attention following calls for government intervention in the plight of Nigerians detained in India. NiDCOM said it remained committed to assisting Nigerians in distress abroad while noting that deportation ultimately depends on the procedures and decisions of the host country's authorities.
The Nigerian High Commission is continuing to engage Indian authorities over the cases of Nigerians awaiting deportation. NiDCOM has also said that consular officials are monitoring the welfare of Nigerians held in Indian detention facilities.
For Chukwuma, however, the circumstances surrounding his detention remain contested, with his account differing from parts of the commission's explanation. Further clarification may depend on official immigration records and the outcome of ongoing engagements between Nigerian and Indian authorities.
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