Limkokwing PhD Student from Nigeria and Father of Two Died in Custody

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Nigerian native Thomas Orhions Ewansiha was arrested by the Immigration Department because he had tried to flee from its officers during a raid, according to the department.

On July 4, an operation was conducted at apartments in Desa Aman Puri in Kuala Lumpur, which led to the arrest of 20 foreigners.

The raids were a result of complaints lodged against African nationals who were suspected of not having valid documents, the department said.

Residents had also alleged that the use of drugs, prostitution and public intoxication in the area had caused unrest among locals.

“At the time, a group of foreigners had tried to run away while also refusing to cooperate with officers during inspection.

“The person in question (Ewansiha) had also fled but was successfully detained by officers,” said Immigration Department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud in a statement Friday (July 12).

He said that Ewansiha then produced documents that officers found to be valid.

However, his previous actions had caused doubt on the authenticity of documents, and he was then detained for 14 days for further investigations.

“All the OKTs (arrested detainees) were then transported to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department office,” he said.

Checks were conducted on Ewansiha and treatment was administrated for an old injury on his thigh. He did not specify any pre-existing medical illnesses, according to Immigration.

All the detainees were then sent to the Bukit Jalil Depot at around noon on July 5.

“At around 12.05am on July 9, the officers on duty were told by the other detainees that the subject had had a seizure in his sleep.

“Immediate aid and medical checks were conducted and the hospital was contacted to assist as well.

“An ambulance from HUKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Hospital) as well as an assistant medical officer arrived at 12.30am and they had attempted to help the subject.

“However, he was then pronounced dead,” Khairul Dzaimee said, adding that a police report was made on the matter.

He added that the department was still waiting for a full medical report on the subject, as well as the exact cause of death, via a post-mortem.

Ewansiha’s death led to a protest outside the Nigerian high commission on Thursday (July 11).

The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology today confirmed that its student Ewansiha is from Nigeria.

In a statement of condolences, the private university said it learnt of Ewansiha’s death yesterday.

“The University was informed of his passing yesterday and we offer our sincere condolences to his family and many close friends.

“By all accounts, Mr Thomas was a passionate and kind member of our community, respected by those lucky to meet him,” the university said in a statement.

The university said Ewansiha was 33 and leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Earlier, the university had tweeted a message “in loving memory” of Ewansiha.

“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.

Twitter

“All of us at Limkokwing University wish to express our heartfelt wishes of love and support to all affected,” the private university had said.

The university said a request was made by a member of the Nigerian Embassy at 11.33am on Thursday (July 11) to share the student’s records.

This was to confirm that he was indeed the person who died while being detained to verify his visa status.

“We immediately responded by making all files available to the embassy.

“To our knowledge, Mr Thomas (Ewansiha) was detained on July 5 at a public place in Kuala Lumpur during a raid,” the university said in a statement on Friday (July 12).

Ewansiha was a member of the university’s postgraduate centre.

Classes at the university campus were suspended today, not because of fears of a mass protest but to remember a “beloved student” who died under Immigration custody, the university said in a news conference.

Choo Choy May

Vice-chancellor Professor K Ramanathan said rumours that there would be a demonstration on campus to protest the Nigerian’s death had proven untrue.

He added that the university had taken precautions to ensure no untoward incident will take place on its grounds, after being alerted to the rumoured mass gathering by students.

Ramanathan said the university has about 100 Nigerians enrolled at the Cyberjaya campus.

Choo Choy May

Also present at the news conference was Limkokwing University’s senior vice-president of corporate development Datuk Gail Phung.