Phil Odili, a Nigerian national and husband of the Deputy Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa, has been arrested over alleged harbouring of illegal and undocumented migrants in the country.
Odili, who is married to Lulama Titi Odili, was reportedly apprehended at Bloemfontein after police allegedly discovered about 28 undocumented foreign nationals at his guesthouse during a raid.
The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday by MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, a South African politician who currently serves as the Premier of the Free State.
According to MaQueen, the police found between 28 and 29 people inside the guesthouse, where they had allegedly been staying for about seven days without leaving the premises.
“It’s a guesthouse where we had about 28 to 29 people that were arrested because they were hiding in this place,
“When we enquire for how long they have been here, we’re told that it’s about seven days that they’ve been hiding in this place.
“They’re not going out. They’re not doing anything there. But there is someone who’s coming in bringing some foodstuffs for them.” She said.
She confirmed that Odili had been taken into custody but had not yet been formally charged.
“The husband is now in custody but not yet being charged. He’ll be transported to the nearest police station. We’ll know later today what charges he’ll be facing,” she said.
The premier urged caution against speculation, saying investigators were still determining whether those staying at the property had legitimately booked accommodation or had been deliberately concealed there.
“They’re still busy with their investigations, looking at the guestbook, whether people just booked genuinely… Those are the areas where I cannot comment but leave them to the police to finish their investigation,” she said.
While authorities have not yet confirmed the identities or nationalities of all those arrested, Letsoha-Mathae however said preliminary findings suggested that many were undocumented foreign nationals from countries including Ethiopia and Nigeria.
“What we have observed or what the police have found is that most of them don’t have documents. They’re illegal immigrants from different countries,” she said.
According to the South African official, the investigation deepened after officers allegedly discovered a Nigerian passport alongside the death certificate and South African identity document of a deceased South African woman during the operation.
“This person is having a Nigerian passport but is in possession of a death certificate of a South African woman and an ID of a South African woman,” Letsoha-Mathae said.
She added that investigators were examining how a visa allegedly linked to the deceased woman was obtained after her death, describing the circumstances as suspicious and requiring further investigation.
Police have yet to announce formal charges against Odili, while investigations into the guesthouse, the undocumented foreign nationals and the recovered documents remain ongoing.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities or nationalities of all those arrested. However, Letsoha-Mathae said preliminary findings suggested that many were undocumented foreign nationals from countries including Ethiopia and Nigeria.
“What we have observed or what the police have found is that most of them don’t have documents. They’re illegal immigrants from different countries,” she said.
Immigration officials are assisting police in verifying the legal status of those taken into custody.
The investigation deepened after officers allegedly discovered a Nigerian passport alongside the death certificate and South African identity document of a deceased South African woman during the operation.
“This person is having a Nigerian passport but is in possession of a death certificate of a South African woman and an ID of a South African woman,” Letsoha-Mathae said.
She added that investigators were examining how a visa allegedly linked to the deceased woman was obtained after her death, describing the circumstances as suspicious and requiring further investigation.
Police have yet to announce formal charges against Odili, while investigations into the guesthouse, the undocumented foreign nationals and the recovered documents remain ongoing.
NPO Reported that anti-migration protesters had on Tuesday taken to the streets following the expiration of the June 30 deadline issued for the evacuation of African migrants from South Africa.