There is a petition by Benson Olugbo and Company against Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Chang’an University, Xi’an, China, and Chinese Police, for gross human rights violation and unlawful deportation of eight (8) Nigerian students from China.

According to the petitioner, the Honourable Minister of Transport has stated in a meeting, that everything possible should be done to ensure the affected students graduate with their mates by June, 2024, and do not suffer further hardship as a result of their deportation from China. The Honourable Minister also emphasized that the five students who had completed their course work successfully, with only the final project pending, must be accorded unfetterd access to submit and defend their project online for possible graduation by June, 2024.

For the only student with deficiency in internship grade and project defense, the Minister emphasized the need for CCECC to arrange for the student to do his internship in CCECC and the report sent to Chang’an University, Xi’an for grading, prelude to his online project submission and defense, for possible graduation in June, 2024. The Minister also stated that CCECC should facilitate the online examination for the two students with deficiencies in some courses, as well as online project submission and defense for possible graduation in June, 2024.

The Honourable Minister also directed that the Parmanent Secretary, Minister of Transport should write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request for a statu report in respect to two detained students in China, namely: Muhammad Sani Auwal (Sani), Male, Nigerian, Undergradudate, Major in Rail Transportation, 2020 cohort. And Chimeka Chinyere (Chinyere) Male, Nigerian, Undergraudate, Major in Civil Engineering, 202 cohort. The Minister requested regular updates on the status of the detained students. He also directed the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Transport to write to the Nigerian Embassy in China, through the Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and request for the results of the drug tests carried out on the students while in China.

The Minister reiterated that the issue of visa cancellation can only be further discussed when the allegation of drug abuse against the students is resolved. He directed CCECC to pay the withheld and continue paying monthly stipends of the students in local currency until they graduate, to enable them continue with seamless project preparation.

The Minister directed that a WhatsApp platform be published to accommodate parents/students/CCECC and Minister of Transport staff to coordinate and monitor responses in compliance with resolutions passed during 3rd April, 2024 meeting at the Minister of Transport’s conference room.

According to the petitioner, the deported students were allowed to write the outstanding examinations online, complete their internships and defend their projects. Five of the students successfully graduated on Saturday, 22nd June, 2024, while the remaining three have some outstanding examinations and will hopefully graduate during the next academic session. The students wers also paid their outstanding allowances as directed by the Honourable Minister of Transport.

However, the two students from the same cohort noted above (Sani and Chinyere) are still detained in China and under investigation for alleged crime of money laundering. And the Nigerian embassy in Beijing has been granted access to them.

However, due to the circumstances surrounding this case, the petitioner pleaded with the Committee to intervene and seek for the return of the students to Nigeria, as was the case with their counterparts who were deported to Nigeria.

Base on the above, the petitioner requested for the intervention of the Committee on the following demands on behalf of the victims:

That the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian embassy in Beijing, should pursue a diplomatic solution to this issue, as the students have been in China since 2019, and their status as students is currently in jeopardy due to the allegations levelled against them.

Secondly, there is need to ascertain the status of the students, as most of their colleagues have graduated, and their academic pursuits are currently in limbo.

Thirdly, that both CCECC and Chang’an University, Xi’an should ensure that the students graduate from their studies, as was done with their classmates.

The petitioner concluded in pleading with the Committee for quick intervention in the cause of the victims, because of the current uncertainty surrounding their academic pursuits.

Federal Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Federal Ministry Of Transport, Nigeria