Nigerian Citizen’s Plea For Indian Citizenship: SC Grants 3-Month Time To Centre To Decide

The Supreme Court recently refused to interfere in the case of detention of a Nigerian citizen. However, the court has asked the central government to take a decision on his application for Indian citizenship within 3 months.

Court refused to interfere with the decision of the Madras High Court which had upheld the detention of the Nigerian national in Special Camp (Foreigners).

He was also found to be in possession of a fake visa and involved in crimes, had married an Indian woman.

The Supreme Court bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan took into account the fact that the petitioner had been arrested in connection with another offense and had been taken into judicial custody, where he was later granted bail.

His visa had expired and he was found to have a fake visa and other documents..

The detainee’s wife, who lives in India, filed a special leave petition challenging the Madras High Court’s order dated June 18, 2024, under which the court refused to interfere with the state government’s order.

The Madras High Court had refused to interfere with the government order on grounds of public interest as it observed that during the proceedings it came to light that the Nigerian national held five passports. He had created a fake website.

What is the Case?

April 17, 2024: Nigerian National Aluko Oluwa Toby Jones was granted bail by the Sessions Court.
The FIR registered against him under sections 420 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code and section 66E of the IT Act.

April 26: However, before he could come out on bail, the Nadu government issued a government order confining him to a special detention camp.

Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International