The Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru has directed a Nigerian national, Onuoha Agha, to leave India over allegations bordering on forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
According to reports, the 42-year-old agreed before the court to return to Nigeria voluntarily, submitting an undertaking that signaled his readiness to depart the country without delay.
In its ruling, the court also instructed state and cybercrime authorities to discontinue criminal proceedings against him, noting that he had already spent about two years in detention.
Agha had been charged under several laws, including the Foreigners Act of 1946, the Information Technology Act of 2000, and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
Delivering its judgment, the court held that, given the undertaking made by the defendant, the appropriate order was for him to immediately leave India.
It added that the decision reflects a practical approach in handling cases involving foreign nationals accused of non-violent or mid-level offences who are willing to self-deport.
The court further directed the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office to commence deportation processes at Agha’s expense, in line with established procedures.
He was also ordered to secure emergency travel documents from the Nigerian consulate to facilitate his return.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has raised concerns over the prolonged retention of passports by some foreign embassies following visa applications.
Reacting to concerns shared by social media commentator Japheth Omojuwa, Dabiri-Erewa criticised the delays, urging embassies to return passports promptly if decisions are not made within a reasonable timeframe.
She also advocated partial refunds of visa fees for unsuccessful applicants, stressing that prolonged delays disrupt travel plans and impose unnecessary hardship on applicants.
