Indian court orders deportation of two Nigerians
Karnataka High Court Orders Deportation of Two Nigerian Nationals
BENGALURU — The Karnataka High Court has ordered the deportation of two Nigerian nationals who have reportedly remained in India for over a decade without valid visas.
In a ruling delivered Thursday, the court directed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to initiate the deportation proceedings for Emeka Iwoba, also known as Austin Noso Iwoba, and Uderike Fidelis.
The two men were arrested in 2024 in Bengaluru on charges related to narcotics trafficking, specifically involving the synthetic drug MDMA and cocaine.
During legal proceedings, Iwoba and Fidelis contended that law enforcement officials failed to adequately inform them of the reasons for their arrest. The court, in its judgment, emphasized the necessity for authorities to disclose the grounds for arrests, underlining that this requirement is a constitutional safeguard.
“The requirement is a fundamental constitutional safeguard and not merely a procedural formality,” the court noted. It highlighted that Article 22 of the Constitution of India extends protections to all individuals within the country’s jurisdiction, including foreign nationals.
The court described this constitutional guarantee as person-centric, ensuring protection for individuals regardless of their nationality.
After their release, the court instructed the FRRO to proceed with the deportation in accordance with the government’s Standard Operating Procedures for withdrawal of prosecution.
