The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the detention of Nigerian national Ekene Vitus Chukwuma at the Lampur detention camp in Delhi, India, following his arrest over an alleged visa overstay.
Chukwuma was reportedly arrested in December 2025. NiDCOM said he was issued an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) during an amnesty window introduced by Indian authorities to allow undocumented foreigners to return to their countries but allegedly chose not to use the document.
According to the commission, Chukwuma’s Nigerian passport expired in 2020. It also said he had sent his wife and three children back to Nigeria but remained in India, citing business reasons.
Chukwuma, however, disputed NiDCOM’s account. He reportedly said his family returned to Nigeria in late 2020 and that the ETC was not issued to him until May 2026, after he had already spent months in detention.
The case comes amid Nigeria’s efforts to assist citizens affected by immigration enforcement in India. More than 4,000 Nigerians reportedly took advantage of an earlier amnesty program to regularize their status or return home.
The Federal Government is now seeking another six-month amnesty window from Indian authorities to enable more Nigerians facing immigration challenges to resolve their status.
The differing accounts over when Chukwuma received the ETC and why he remained in India have added another dimension to the case, with the relevant authorities expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding his detention and travel arrangements.