Former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina has once again found herself at the centre of the citizenship controversy surrounding her identity after South African immigration lawyer Craig Smith made fresh claims about her legal status.
Speaking during an interview, Smith argued that Adetshina cannot lay claim to South African citizenship because her mother’s citizenship was allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
According to him, South African law does not permit citizenship rights to be inherited from a parent whose citizenship has been declared invalid.
The lawyer further claimed that Adetshina’s ongoing legal battle to reclaim her South African citizenship faces significant hurdles. He maintained that she is no longer eligible to hold a South African passport or visa under the current circumstances and suggested that her legal standing in the country remains uncertain pending the outcome of court proceedings.
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Adetshina has consistently maintained that she is entitled to South African citizenship through her mother. Her case gained international attention in 2024 after questions were raised over her nationality during the Miss South Africa competition, eventually leading to her withdrawal from the pageant. She later accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where she emerged winner before finishing as the first runner-up at the Miss Universe competition.