Unlawful Residency: Nigerian Citizen Abana Süleymani Detained in TRNC

Süleymani, found to be living in the TRNC without residency permission, was arrested and brought before the court yesterday, where Police Officer Hasan Çetin presented the facts.

The police stated that the suspect arrived at the Lefkoşa Police Directorate around 14:00 on April 29, 2024, to obtain a migration entry-exit document and was identified there. During the migration check, it was determined that the suspect had been living illegally in the TRNC for 517 days since September 20, 2021, and was caught red-handed. The police also disclosed that an investigation by the Ministry of Interior confirmed the suspect's lack of residency permission. Noting that the suspect is of Nigerian nationality with no legal ties to the country, the police requested his detention pending trial.

Assessing the evidence before her, Judge Zehra Yalkut Bilgeç remarked that illegal residence is a crime punishable by up to 6 months in prison and is becoming increasingly widespread. Therefore, she ordered the suspect to be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 15 days.