Ex-Miss Universe Nigerian Chidimma Adetshina returns to court over deportation battle

Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, appeared in a South African court on Thursday as proceedings regarding her potential deportation resumed. The 25-year-old beauty queen has been embroiled in an immigration dispute since her arrest in Cape Town in June, facing allegations of residing in the country without valid immigration status.

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The matter was, however, adjourned until Monday to allow the South African government file its response to her submissions.

At the Cape Town Regional Court hearing, Adetshina submitted an affidavit detailing her efforts to legalize her stay, aiming to prevent deportation. The court adjourned the matter until Monday to allow the South African government to respond to her submissions. Her legal challenges stem from a citizenship controversy that emerged during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.

Adetshina, born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, has been under legal scrutiny regarding her citizenship status. An affidavit filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson states that investigations by the Department of Home Affairs found Adetshina and her son were living in South Africa without lawful residency. Jackson argued that her continued presence violates the Immigration Act and requested her detention pending deportation.

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According to an affidavit filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson, investigations by the Department of Home Affairs found that Adetshina and her minor son were living in South Africa without lawful residency.

This latest court appearance follows a March decision by the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, who rejected Adetshina's request to review the department's refusal to issue her a letter of good cause. Schreiber alleged that Adetshina failed to respond to a notice regarding the cancellation of her and her son's identity documents. The minister also claimed she obtained a Nigerian passport before applying for a South African visitor's visa using a fraudulent bank statement, leading to the application's rejection.

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Schreiber said the department had informed Adetshina in September 2024 of its intention to cancel both her identity documents and those of her son but claimed she failed to respond to the notice.