Chidimma Adetshina Appears in South African Court to Fight Deportation

Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, returned to the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday to continue her legal battle against deportation.

Adetshina was arrested by South African immigration officials on June 6, 2026, for allegedly residing in the country without valid legal papers. She made her first court appearance on June 9 and was released on a warning pending the outcome of the case.

During the court session, the beauty queen was expected to submit an affidavit outlining the official steps she had taken to regularise her immigration status in South Africa. The affidavit forms a key part of her defence against the Department of Home Affairs, which is actively pushing for her deportation.

According to home affairs officials, Adetshina and her minor son have no legal right to remain in the country, alleging that she entered South Africa after being declared a prohibited person in December 2024. These allegations have not yet been tested in a trial.

Adetshina’s legal troubles stem from a highly publicised dispute over her citizenship. Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, she withdrew from the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant after government investigations raised questions about her mother’s identity documents.

Following her withdrawal, she accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she won. She went on to represent Nigeria at the global Miss Universe competition in Mexico, finishing as the first runner-up.