India orders deportation of Nigerians

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the deportation of two Nigerian nationals for overstaying in India for more than a decade without valid visas.

The court, on Thursday, directed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to extradite Emeka Iwoba (also known as Austin Noso Iwoba) and Uderike Fidelis.

Both men were apprehended in 2024 by the Bengaluru police for alleged involvement in peddling drugs, including 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cocaine. They had claimed that Indian authorities failed to inform them of the grounds for their arrest.

The High Court, however, ordered their release, citing constitutional protections. “It is a mandatory constitutional safeguard and not a procedural formality,” the court stated. “The constitutional protection under Article 22 extends to all persons within India, including foreign nationals, as it is not citizen-centric but person-centric.”

Following their release, the court instructed the FRRO to proceed with deportation in line with the Standard Operating Procedure for withdrawal of prosecution.