NiDCOM says Nigerian detained in India did not take opportunity to return — Premium Times Nigeria
In India, the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said that Nigerian citizen Ekene Chukwuma is being held at the Lumpur detention camp in Delhi. As Premium Times Nigeria reports, according to the commission, the man was detained in December 2025 because of an expired visa, and had previously not used an emergency travel document to leave the country without fines.
NiDCOM's version
NiDCOM said that Chukwuma's passport expired in 2020. According to the commission, the Nigerian High Commission in India issued him an Emergency Travel Certificate during an amnesty period so that he could return to Nigeria.
The commission claims that Chukwuma sent his wife and three children to Nigeria but remained in India to conduct business without proper documents. According to NiDCOM, the document was not used and later expired while the man was already in custody. The statement was released after an appeal by Arise TV journalist Rufai Oseni regarding Chukwuma's prolonged detention in India.
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Chukwuma's objections
In a subsequent publication by Oseni, Chukwuma denied NiDCOM's version. He said that he sent his family home before the amnesty, and received the emergency travel document after spending nearly six months in a deportation camp. According to him, if the document had been issued earlier, he could have bought an airline ticket with the funds he had at the time. He also claims that obtaining the document required paying 35,000 rupees.
NiDCOM noted that India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office first verifies and processes the cases of people awaiting deportation. After receiving a deportation request, the Nigerian High Commission issues emergency travel documents to such persons. Some Nigerians have already passed verification, while others, including Chukwuma, remain in custody awaiting deportation. The Nigerian mission in India has also requested a new six-month amnesty for Nigerians who are illegally residing or working in the country.
