Five Chinese nationals have remained in the custody of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for nearly a week following their arrest in Abuja, amid growing claims of bribery, ethnic bias, and abuse of authority.
The workers, picked up on August 12, 2025, were transferred to the NIS headquarters in Sauka, along Airport Road, where they are still being held in a facility described by sources as “makeshift detention.”
Business Rivalry at the Heart of Arrests
Sources familiar with the case allege that the arrests go beyond immigration violations, pointing instead to a bitter business feud involving a Chinese investor identified as Dongfeng.
Multiple insiders told M10News that Dongfeng allegedly petitioned Immigration officials to act against his business rivals, reportedly offering bribes to senior officers to secure their detention.
“Dongfeng used his company to petition them and must have bribed Immigration officials,” a member of the Chinese community in Nigeria said. “This is not about immigration papers but about knocking out business competitors.”
Allegations Against Senior Immigration Official
One name repeatedly mentioned in the controversy is Mrs. Azuka Halliday, a Deputy Comptroller General at Immigration Headquarters. She was accused of being “compromised” by the petitioners.
“Even if these workers had issues with immigration papers, there are fines and penalties under Nigerian law. But now, it seems Immigration is working for private business interests,” another source alleged.
Questions Over Prolonged Detention
The detention, which has now stretched into a week, has raised eyebrows, with critics accusing NIS of overstepping its mandate.
“I don’t know when Immigration became the police. How can they keep people for almost a week without charge?” one insider asked.
Conflicting Claims Over Documents
Immigration authorities maintain that the five Chinese nationals were working without valid permits, allegedly relying on Temporary Work Permits (TWP).
However, the detained workers insist they possess Permanent Residence Permits, with one claiming he had only arrived in Nigeria a week before his arrest.
They also argue that NIS had recently launched an amnesty programme on July 28, 2025, allowing overstayers and undocumented workers to regularise their status. “Instead of applying the amnesty window, they are threatening us with deportation and factory closure,” one detainee reportedly told his associates.
Immigration Denies Wrongdoing
When contacted, NIS spokesman Akinsola Akinlabi dismissed the allegations as “false and misleading,” stressing that the agency only targets foreigners who breach immigration laws.
“If you see us arresting any foreigners, you should know they have done something wrong,” he said. “It is part of our mission to safeguard Nigeria’s economic environment and ensure only legitimate investors operate.”
A senior NIS official also defended the arrests, describing the detainees as “illegal immigrants without valid documents.”
According to him, the amnesty policy “was not designed for individuals who entered the country illegally or ignored proper documentation processes.”
Diplomatic and Legal Fallout Looms
With the detainees alleging victimisation and Immigration standing firm on its position, the case is expected to test Nigeria’s handling of foreign investors and could trigger diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Beijing if not quickly resolved.
