Two Nigerian Students Detained in North Cyprus Seek Help Over Alleged Illegal Forex Business
- 23 minutes ago
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Two Nigerian women studying in North Cyprus have appealed to the Nigerian government and human rights organisations for urgent intervention after becoming entangled in a criminal investigation linked to an alleged illegal foreign exchange operation.
The women, identified as Deborah Christopher and Chidinma Promise, claimed they were employees of a Nigerian businessman, Johnpaul Chika Okoli, also known as Jaypee or Poko, who allegedly operated a currency exchange business in the Girne/Kyrenia area of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
According to Deborah, the pair worked alongside other Nigerian students who handled naira exchanges into Turkish lira, cryptocurrency, and other foreign currencies for African students living in the country.
She explained that their troubles began on June 14, 2025, when armed police officers reportedly raided the apartment used for the business operation while she and Chidinma were on duty.
Deborah said the officers initially searched the premises for drugs but allegedly found only cash in multiple currencies, phones, and laptops. She added that several students present during the raid were detained for questioning.
She further alleged that panic broke out during the operation, causing a female student to jump from the third floor of the building out of fear connected to her immigration status. The student reportedly sustained severe injuries before later being deported.
Following the raid, Deborah said both women were taken into custody and later arraigned in court. She stated that she was granted bail under strict conditions, including the confiscation of her passport and mandatory police reporting twice every week.
Chidinma, however, was reportedly remanded in prison after authorities discovered that her residence permit had expired. Deborah claimed that although the detention was initially expected to last only a short period during investigations, Chidinma has now spent about 10 months behind bars.
The women alleged that Okoli left North Cyprus shortly after the incident and returned to Nigeria, where he allegedly continues to manage the same business remotely.
Deborah accused him of abandoning them and refusing to accept responsibility for the operation. She also claimed that communication between them stopped months ago after he allegedly insisted the legal matter was theirs alone to handle.
According to her, the two women have struggled to secure consistent legal representation because of financial difficulties, while another suspect connected to the case allegedly continues to receive legal support funded by Okoli.
She said prosecutors are now allegedly attempting to classify her and Chidinma as owners of the business rather than employees, placing them at risk of imprisonment if they fail to prove otherwise in court.
Deborah also questioned the handling of the case, alleging inconsistencies in witness testimonies presented during court proceedings.
The women are now calling on Nigerian authorities, legal aid groups, and international human rights organisations to intervene and ensure they receive fair treatment and proper legal representation.
Efforts to get a response from Okoli regarding the allegations were reportedly unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to him were not answered at the time the report was filed.
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