Chidimma Adetshina faces deportation proceedings in South Africa

Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, was arrested in Cape Town’s Summer Greens area and appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on 9 June. She was released on warning and ordered to remain at the address of her arrest while officials continue deportation proceedings, with a further hearing set for 16 July.

Immigration officer Adrian Jackson filed an affidavit stating that checks confirmed “the applicant does not hold any lawful RSA residential status and is thus an illegal foreigner.” The Department of Home Affairs, led by Minister Leon Schreiber, earlier cancelled Adetshina’s and her son’s South African identity documents, declared her a prohibited person, and alleged she entered the country through the Lebombo border from Mozambique while presenting herself as a South African citizen. Schreiber also said her visa application was rejected after submitting a fraudulent bank statement.

The case follows a citizenship controversy that arose when Adetshina qualified as a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, withdrew amid public scrutiny, and later won the Miss Universe Nigeria title, finishing as first‑runner‑up at the global Miss Universe competition.