Nigerian student who went to report a missing passport arrested for illegal residency

An international student who applied to the police over a missing passport has been arrested and detained for living illegally in the TRNC.

The student, named only as FO, a Nigerian had gone to the police on Wednesday, Oct, 25 to report that her passport was missing when she was arrested for living in the TRNC without a resident permit.

She was taken to the Lefkosa court on Wednesday, Oct. 25 on charges of illegal residency.

Police officer who testified in court on the incident said the student visited the Lefkosa judicial branch at around 9:30am on Wednesday, Oct. 25 to complain about her missing passport when she was subjected to immigration control.

Police said during the check, it was discovered that she had been living illegally in the TRNC for 305 days without a resident permit since October 24, 2022. 

Police said she came to the country with a 60-day student visa but did not enroll in school. 

Speaking in court, the student, said, “I lost my father after coming here. That's why I couldn't start school. Now I want to go back. "I can get my own ticket and go," she said.

Police said the investigation into the suspect, was completed and demanded that she be detained for a period not exceeding 15 days.

The judge who evaluated the testimony before the court and the student's statement, ordered that she be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 10 days.