UPDATE - Nigeria High Commission Officials Having Cross-Section Meeting With Immigration And Others

Khairul Dzaimee Daud (Immigration DG)

Friday 12 July 2019, the Malaysian Immigration had a cross-section meeting with officials from Nigeria High Commission alongside with other African countries commissioners/ambassadors and staffs/principals from colleges/universities over the death of a Nigerian Phd student who was illegally detained by immigration.

A briefing as to his arrest and what led to his death were given.

"He was arrested on Thursday 4 July 2019, he had a valid student visa. He died on Thursday 9 July 2019. Why wasn't his visa verified on Friday 5 July and be released immediately?"

Officials of Nigeria High Commission with Imm. DG

I demand an independent investigation, I demand that the procedures be revised to prevent such abuse of legitimate foreign students in the future.

Immigration Director General confirms Nigerian PhD student died in it's custody.

A Nigerian doctorate student at a local private university (Limkowking University of Creative Technology) died on July 9 in the custody of Immigration Department.

Immigration director general Khairul Dzaimee Daud, confirmed the incident which was highlighted on social media by other Nigerian students here.

"He died in a detention center at Bukit Jalil on July 9, 2019 at 00:30. No breach of "standing operating procedure (SOP).

"We are still awaiting the laboratory report from University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (HUKM)," Khairul Dzaimee told reporters.

He said the student was detained on July 4 during an Immigration operation in Desa Aman Puri Apartment, and subsequently placed under remand for 14 days to verify his documents and seek confirmation from the college on his attendance record and details of his course.

Khairul Dzaimee also revealed that 20 others were detained during the same operation launched following complaints about alleged "misbehavior" of foreigners in the area.

He further claimed the student did not give full cooperation during the operation and attempted to run when being approached by immigration officers.

Mrs. Bello Mohammed

In a press statement, Khairul reveled further details including that the student upon arrest had presented his passport which he said contained a valid student visa.

However, the student's initial reaction to flee had raised suspicions over the validity of his travel documents.

"The student was suspected of committing offences under Section 56(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 and was arrested under Section 51(5)(b) for 14 days for further investigations," he said.

He said the student, who did not reveal any existing illnesses, was also given basic treatment for an old injury on his right calf during the documentation process carried out at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department office before all those arrested were taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration depot at noon on July 5 2019.

With regards to the death in custody, Khairul said at approximately 12:05am on July 9 2019, the depot's officer in charge was informed by other inmates that the student had suffered fits while asleep.

He said the student was treated by the team on duty who also alerted the University Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) to send an ambulance.

"The ambulance arrived with a medical assistant at 12:30am but the subject was subsequently pronounced dead," he said. Adding that the immigration officer on duty subsequently lodged a police report at the Bukit Jalil police station.

Earlier today, the Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology announced the death of one of it's doctorate students on its official Twitter account.

"It is with the deepest regret that we report the demise of Orhions Ewansiha Thomas. Pursuing his PhD in Management, Mr. Thomas was an inspired young man.

Mr. Mafe (Official Nigeria High Commission)

"All of us at Limkokwing University wish to express our heartfelt wishes of love and support to all affected," the university tweeted, along with a photograph of the student and a note "in loving memory".

It is understood that university administration had issued a notice to suspend all classes scheduled for today Friday July 12 2019 in anticipation of a gathering by students on campus.