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A former Miss Universe Nigeria and Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, is reportedly facing renewed deportation proceedings in South Africa after authorities allegedly discovered she was living in the country without valid immigration documents.
According to South African publication Sunday World, the 25-year-old beauty queen appeared before a regional court in Cape Town on June 9 after being arrested in the Summer Greens area. She was later released on warning and is expected back in court next month as South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs pursues efforts to deport her.
Court documents reportedly filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson claimed Adetshina had already been identified during an earlier investigation. Authorities alleged that she and her minor son were residing in South Africa without legal status.
Jackson stated that officials conducted checks using the department’s electronic records and interviewed Adetshina to determine her immigration standing.
“After the above ‘status determination’ interview and the DHA residency IT systems checks, it was confirmed that the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner,” the affidavit stated.
The immigration officer further alleged that Adetshina had “wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully” in South Africa in breach of immigration laws and requested approval for her detention pending deportation.
The latest legal battle follows an earlier decision by South African Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, who in March rejected Adetshina’s request to review the department’s refusal to issue her a letter of good cause.
According to the minister, Adetshina had been informed in September 2024 that authorities intended to cancel both her and her son’s South African identity documents but claimed she did not respond.
Schreiber also alleged that Adetshina obtained a Nigerian passport before later applying for a South African visitor’s visa, which was reportedly denied after authorities claimed a fraudulent bank statement had been submitted.
He further stated that she was declared a prohibited person on December 19, 2024, making her ineligible to obtain a visa or permit to remain in South Africa.
The minister additionally alleged that Adetshina later entered South Africa again through the Lebombo border from Mozambique while identifying herself as a South African citizen before submitting another immigration application.
Authorities also reportedly rejected her son’s immigration request on the grounds that it depended entirely on hers and lacked an independent legal basis.
Following her recent court appearance, the court reportedly ordered Adetshina to remain at the address where she was arrested and to notify immigration investigators of any change in residence, work or movement until the matter is heard.
Adetshina became the focus of public debate in 2024 after emerging as a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant. Amid questions surrounding her nationality, she withdrew from the contest before later representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, where she won the Miss Universe Nigeria title and finished as first runner-up globally.
Since then, South African authorities have continued examining issues surrounding her citizenship and immigration status, maintaining that she lacks legal grounds to remain in the country.
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