Former Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has returned to the Cape Town Regional Court as South African authorities continued efforts to deport her over her immigration status.

Adetshina appeared before the court on Thursday, July 16, but the proceedings were held behind closed doors.

South African News platform, Central News reported that journalists and members of the public were denied access to the courtroom.

She left the court shortly after her appearance, while details of the proceedings were not immediately released.

Her legal team was expected to present an affidavit explaining the steps she had taken to regularise her immigration status in South Africa.

However, the contents of the affidavit were not made public.

No final deportation order or new court date had been announced as of the time of filing this report.

Adetshina was arrested in the Summer Greens area of Cape Town on June 6 and first appeared before the court on June 9.

The court released her on warning and ordered her to remain at the address where she was arrested

She was also directed to inform immigration officials of any changes to her residence, employment or movement while the matter remained before the court.

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs alleged that Adetshina and her minor son were living in the country without lawful immigration status.

Court papers filed by immigration officer Adrian Jackson stated that checks conducted by the department showed that Adetshina “does not hold any lawful RSA residential status.”

Jackson also alleged that she had “wilfully and intentionally remained resident unlawfully” in South Africa, contrary to the Immigration Act.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber had earlier rejected Adetshina’s application for a review of the department’s refusal to issue her a letter of good cause.

The department also declared her a prohibited person under South Africa’s Immigration Act on December 19, 2024.

The immigration dispute followed the controversy surrounding her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant in 2024.

At the time, Home Affairs said its preliminary investigation found possible evidence of fraud and identity theft involving the person registered as Adetshina’s mother.

The department, however, stated that Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother” because she was an infant when they occurred in 2001.

Adetshina later withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition amid questions over her citizenship.

She subsequently won Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and represented the country at the Miss Universe competition.

She finished as first runner-up and was named Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

The deportation case remains before the Cape Town Regional Court.