Nigerian Man in India Refuses Chance to Go Home

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has shared details about a Nigerian named Ekene Chukwuma. He is being held at a detention camp in Delhi, India, after being arrested for overstaying his visa.

In a statement on X on Wednesday, the commission explained that Mr Chukwuma was arrested last December. He overstayed his visa and turned down an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) offered to him to leave the country without facing penalties.

NiDCOM made this statement after Arise TV journalist Rufai Oseni asked about Mr Chukwuma's situation. He wanted help for Mr Chukwuma, who is still in detention in India.

The commission noted that Mr Chukwuma’s passport expired in 2020. They said the Nigerian High Commission in India had given him an ETC earlier to help him return home during an amnesty period.

Even after receiving the ETC, Mr Chukwuma sent his wife and three children back to Nigeria but decided to stay in India for business. The agency pointed out that he stayed even though he did not have the right documents.

"He was issued an ETC by the Nigerian High Commission to allow him to return home during the amnesty period. However, he chose not to use the ETC and sent his wife and children back home, while he stayed behind," NiDCOM explained.

Mr Chukwuma did not take the ETC and remained in India until he was arrested. While he was in detention, the document also expired.

But Mr Chukwuma has denied this version of events. He spoke to Mr Oseni, saying, "That’s a false report; why are they putting this lie in my head?" He claimed he had sent his family back before the amnesty and was already in detention when he got the ETC.

“I stayed almost 6 months inside a deportation camp before getting my ETC. If I had gotten my ETC earlier, I would’ve booked my flight with the little funds I had at the time.

“But they don’t give it unless you pay 35,000 rupees,” he said.

NiDCOM stated that the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in India requires that detainees first be checked and cleared by Indian authorities before they can be deported.

Many Nigerians have been cleared, while others, including Mr Chukwuma, are still waiting in detention for deportation.

"The High Commission of Nigeria in India will then issue an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) to them after receiving the request for deportation concerning those to be deported," NiDCOM added.

The commission said the Nigerian High Commission in India is keeping an eye on Mr Chukwuma’s situation and others facing deportation. They revealed that they have requested another six-month amnesty for Nigerians living or working illegally in India, allowing them to leave without penalties.

"The Nigerian High Commission would continue to monitor the situation of Ekene and hundreds of other deportees as the Mission has requested another round of six months’ amnesty for those Nigerians residing and working illegally in India to leave without any payment of penalties," the statement said.