The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has defended its account of the circumstances surrounding the detention of a Nigerian, Ekene Vitus Chukwuma, in India for alleged visa overstay.

NiDCOM, in a statement on Thursday, rejected allegations that it misrepresented the case and maintained that Chukwuma remained in India without valid travel documents after being given an opportunity to return to Nigeria.

The commission said Chukwuma’s Nigerian passport expired in 2020 and that he was arrested in December 2025 for visa overstay.

Its response followed a report quoting Chukwuma as disputing aspects of NiDCOM’s earlier account, including claims that his wife and three children had returned to Nigeria while he remained in India for business.

Chukwuma was reportedly detained at a deportation camp in Delhi following his arrest. He also disputed NiDCOM’s claim that he had previously been issued an Emergency Travel Certificate during an amnesty programme but failed to use it.

However, NiDCOM said his immigration status remained relevant to the circumstances of his detention, arguing that staying in another country without valid documentation constituted an immigration violation.

The commission said Chukwuma had told a consular officer by telephone that he sent his family back to Nigeria but remained in India to conduct business despite lacking valid documentation.

NiDCOM also maintained that the Nigerian High Commission had issued him an Emergency Travel Certificate to facilitate his return during an amnesty period, but that he did not use the document before it expired.

The commission said India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office was responsible for deportation proceedings and that detainees must first be cleared by the relevant authorities.

It added that the Nigerian High Commission would issue new Emergency Travel Certificates to Nigerians cleared for deportation after receiving the necessary requests from Indian authorities.

NiDCOM said the High Commission had also requested another six-month amnesty for Nigerians living and working illegally in India to leave without paying penalties.

The commission urged Nigerians living abroad to comply with the laws of their host countries and encouraged regular migration, while stressing that it remained committed to assisting citizens genuinely in distress abroad.