The Karnataka High Court has ordered officials to deport a pair of Nigerian citizens who reportedly lived in India for over a decade without any legal visa documentation.
In a decision handed down on Thursday, the bench told the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to start the removal process for Emeka Iwoba, who also goes by Austin Noso Iwoba, and Uderike Fidelis.
The duo had been picked up in 2024 by Bengaluru police on suspicion of dealing narcotics, specifically cocaine and the synthetic stimulant MDMA.
Throughout the trial, the men maintained that the police failed to give them a clear explanation as to why they were being taken into custody.
In its ruling, the court sanctioned their release from jail, highlighting that the constitutional requirement for officers to reveal the basis for an arrest is an absolute necessity.
“The requirement is a fundamental constitutional safeguard and not merely a procedural formality,” the court stated, pointing out that the legal shield offered by Article 22 of India’s Constitution extends to every person in the country, foreign visitors included.
The court further clarified that this constitutional promise is built around the individual rather than just the citizen, protecting anyone regardless of what passport they carry.
Once they are processed for release, the court instructed the FRRO to move forward with their deportation, following the official government protocols for cases where prosecution is being withdrawn.