Five Arrested Chinese Nationals Back in Nigeria, No Prosecution in Sight
By Passman Akpos
Fresh controversy has erupted within Nigeria’s immigration system following reports that five Chinese nationals previously arrested and repatriated over immigration violations have allegedly returned to the country without facing prosecution or sanctions.
The five men — Zhang Damou (46), Qian Jin (48), Tang Pan (41), Lin Jianfeng (52), and Guo Zhengheng (40) — were initially arrested on August 12, 2025, during a joint enforcement operation by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS). The sting operation targeted Royal Castle Ceramics Company Limited located along the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State.
According to sources, the factory — allegedly concealed within thick vegetation and lacking visible corporate signage — was suspected of illegally employing expatriates without the required business permits and expatriate quota approvals mandated by Nigerian law.
Arrest, Release and “Unofficial Deportation”After their arrest, the five Chinese nationals were detained at the NIS headquarters in Sauka, Abuja. However, they were reportedly released on August 21, 2025, following what sources described as the intervention of a retired senior immigration officer.
Although the Federal Government, through the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, reportedly ordered their repatriation, immigration insiders now allege that the process was handled irregularly.
A senior immigration source claimed that instead of formal deportation proceedings involving prosecution, fines, and blacklisting, the five men were “quietly escorted” out of Nigeria and treated as regular outbound passengers.
Alleged Return Raises Alarm
The most disturbing development, according to sources, occurred in January 2026. On January 17, the five men were escorted through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and allowed to board an outbound flight without being processed as deportees.
Just two days later, on January 19, they reportedly re-entered Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport — again without any record of fines, penalties, or statutory fees paid to the Federal Government.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service has allowed the free entry of these same nationals into the country without proper documentation,” a source alleged.
Serious Allegations of Exploitation and Resistance
Sources also alleged that Royal Castle Ceramics lacked mandatory regulatory approvals and that the Chinese workers were operating under Temporary Work Permits (TWP) and Business Visas — visa categories not valid for long-term factory employment.
Further claims include unsafe working conditions, wages below the national minimum, and routine labour violations affecting Nigerian employees at the facility.
During their arrest, the expatriates allegedly resisted enforcement officers — an offence that ordinarily attracts criminal prosecution under Nigeria’s Immigration Act. Yet, more than four months later, no court proceedings have reportedly been initiated, no administrative penalties imposed, and no formal deportation orders documented.
Ministry Reacts
When contacted, a senior official at the Ministry of Interior said he was unaware that the Chinese nationals had returned to Nigeria.
According to the official, Minister Tunji-Ojo had recently ordered their immediate repatriation as part of efforts to strengthen immigration compliance and national security.
Preliminary findings, the official added, suggest that some enforcement personnel may have compromised procedures by bypassing required vetting processes.
Authorities have reportedly launched a full investigation into the matter, with assurances that any officials found culpable will face disciplinary action.
Public Demands Accountability
The unfolding scandal has triggered widespread concern over what critics describe as selective enforcement and institutional compromise within Nigeria’s immigration framework.
Observers are now calling on the Minister of Interior, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and anti-corruption agencies to intervene and conduct an independent, transparent investigation.
Questions being raised include:Why were clear immigration violators not prosecuted?Who authorised their escorted exit as regular passengers?What justified their swift re-entry without sanctions?Why were statutory fines and penalties allegedly not collected?
Until those questions are answered, stakeholders warn that the case risks deepening public suspicion and eroding confidence in Nigeria’s immigration enforcement system.
As investigations continue, the Royal Castle Ceramics controversy may become a defining test of the Federal Government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
