Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, has found herself in the spotlight not just for her beauty and poise but also for an ongoing investigation by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
The department is into the allegations of fraud and identity theft involving the 23-year-old’s parents, which are her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother. The claims are that the may be illegal immigrants. But Chidimma is not backing down, and she has a crown to win in Mexico this November at the Miss Universe finale.
In a recent interview with Arise News, Chidimma didn’t shy away from the controversy. While she refrained from diving into the nitty-gritties of the investigation, she had this to say: “I’ve avoided the questions because it is a legal matter, and I do not have all the facts. But what I can say is that I was not running away from (anything that happened).”
The model went on to add: “I did not steal anyone’s identity. I’m still waiting for the conclusion on the case. Moving forward, I will know what to say.”
Her father, Michael Adetshina, was less forthcoming when eNCA’s Checkpoint investigative show reached out. He refused to answer any questions, adding to the air of mystery surrounding the situation.
Despite the swirling legal storm, Chidimma opened up about her upbringing and how it shaped her. Born in South Africa, she spent her early years bouncing between there and Nigeria. “I was both in South Africa, and I came to Nigeria when I was three years old. I stayed here for a couple of months, and then I went back to South Africa.”
She shared her longing for her former life: “I miss my friends, family, I miss my lifestyle. I’m trying to adapt.”
But the pageant queen didn’t mention of her son, who was born during her marriage to her now ex-husband. The 23-year-old is one of seven siblings, four of whom live in Nigeria, while the others, like Chidimma, are based in South Africa. Despite growing up far from her father’s homeland, she says of her Cape Town upbringing, “There is a Nigerian population everywhere, so I felt that I was still in touch with my Nigerian heritage.”
As Chidimma prepares to jet off to Mexico for the Miss Universe competition, questions loom over how the DHA investigation might affect her travel plans. Currently, she holds both South African identification and travel documents, as well as a Nigerian passport. But if the investigation determines that her parents’ permanent residency or citizenship was fraudulently obtained, Chidimma’s citizenship status could be on shaky ground.
Phelelani Khumalo, Head of Legal Services for the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee, revealed in parliament that if Chidimma’s birth registration is found to be fraudulent, her South African citizenship could be cancelled. “In the event that the director-general finally cancels the identity document, it would mean that the registration itself (of Chidimma’s birth) was fraudulent,” Khumalo explained.
Main Image: News24
