The travel documents of Chidinma Adetshina and her mother are set to be revoked according to South African authorities.
Recall that Adetshina, the current Miss Universe Nigeria has been embroidered in an identity fraud controversy which eventually led to her withdrawal from the coveted Miss South Africa beauty pageant following public outrage.
In a briefing to parliament on Tuesday, October 29, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza outlined the department’s response to the case, stating that Adetshina and her mother had ignored requests to clarify their documentation. The matter has now been escalated to the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
“We’ve done our investigations, we went through due process, we gave her an opportunity to make representation, [and this] was not done,” Deputy Minister Nzuza said.
The department confirmed that a formal letter was sent to Chidinma Adetshina and her mother, asking them to explain why their identity and travel documents should not be revoked. With the deadline passing on Monday, Home Affairs Director-General Livhuwani Tommy Makhode confirmed that the documents would now be withdrawn.
Adding an international dimension to the case, Deputy Minister Nzuza stated that Interpol is collaborating with South Africa to address potential international aspects of the alleged identity fraud.
Meanwhile, Adetshina who is currently in Mexico to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe pageant on November 16 is yet to comment on the development.
