US Moves Against Nigerian in $11.6m Fraud

AkoniTV May 19, 2026 Global Leave a comment 19 Views

The United States Department of Justice on Monday filed a lawsuit in a Maryland court to revoke the citizenship of Nigerian-born Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem after accusing him of fraudulently obtaining US citizenship while running a tax and identity theft scheme that allegedly stole over $11.6 million between 2012 and 2015.

According to the department, Kazeem was convicted in 2017 on multiple fraud and identity theft charges and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

The Justice Department alleged that he concealed criminal activities during his naturalisation process, making him ineligible for US citizenship.

Authorities said Kazeem and his associates used stolen identities belonging to over 259,000 victims to file fraudulent tax returns and obtain millions in refunds.

Investigators reportedly uncovered prepaid debit cards, electronic devices and cash linked to the fraud during searches conducted in several US states.

The department also accused Kazeem of engaging in a sham marriage to secure permanent residency in the United States.

According to court documents, more than $2.1 million linked to the scheme was transferred to Nigeria, with hundreds of transfers allegedly connected directly to Kazeem.

The Justice Department said Kazeem used part of the proceeds to buy properties in the US and attempted to finance a hotel project in Lagos.

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said the US government would continue pursuing individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud.

“US citizenship is a privilege, and we will continue to ask courts to revoke a status obtained through deceit,” he said.