The United States Department of Justice has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the naturalised American citizenship of 25 individuals—including three Nigerian-born residents—accused of securing their citizenship through fraudulent means, concealed criminal histories, and fake identities.
The civil denaturalisation complaints, filed across various US District Courts between July 20 and August 3, 2026, form part of what federal officials have termed the largest coordinated denaturalisation effort in the history of the Justice Department.
According to an official statement issued by the DOJ on Monday, August 3, 2026, the sweeping legal actions target individuals involved in severe infractions, ranging from attempted murder and child sexual assault to identity fraud and bigamy.
“U.S. citizenship is one of our nation’s highest privileges, and it must be obtained lawfully and honestly,” stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The complaints announced today allege that these individuals secured naturalisation through fraud, concealment, or other unlawful conduct.”
Federal records show that since January 20, 2025, the Justice Department has filed 123 civil denaturalisation cases, marking an unprecedented surge in citizenship revocations.
Specific allegations against the three Nigerian nationals
The legal filings name three Nigerian-born citizens who face complete revocation of their US citizenship and cancellation of their naturalisation certificates:
- Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan (56) — District of Massachusetts
The Allegations: Federal prosecutors allege that Obasohan obtained his green card and subsequent US citizenship under a completely fabricated identity to evade an active deportation order.
Underlying Record: Before naturalising, Obasohan had been formally ordered deported from the United States under his real name, Tinosa Joe Aigbedion. He failed to disclose his true identity or the pending deportation order at any stage of his naturalisation proceedings. The DOJ has filed a five-count complaint against him for illegally procuring citizenship.
- Yetunde Folake Olaniyi (56) — District of Maryland
The Allegations: Also known as Folake Rosemary Thomas, Olaniyi is accused of evading a removal order, adopting a false persona, and engaging in a sham marriage with an American citizen while remaining legally married to a Nigerian man.
Underlying Record: After absconding from her scheduled removal flight, she used her assumed identity to secure a spousal green card and naturalised three years later. In 2014, federal fingerprint checks exposed her real identity, leading to a conviction for passport fraud. The government’s seven-count complaint cites statutory ineligibility and lack of good moral character.
- Vivian Chike Obichere (72) — Northern District of California
Obichere, who naturalised in 2013, allegedly lied under oath during her application process regarding past criminal acts, international travel, aliases, and false statements to federal officials.
She later pled guilty to the false application and illegal use of a US passport belonging to another American citizen. The Justice Department is seeking her denaturalisation on four counts involving willful misrepresentation and statutory ineligibility.
Federal officials signal continued enforcement
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division affirmed that the federal government is accelerating legal actions against individuals who abused the naturalisation process.
“Today marks the largest denaturalisation surge in recorded history,” Shumate noted. “Every one of these individuals committed crimes incompatible with U.S. citizenship. We are moving at record speed to denaturalise those who sought to deceive the federal government.”
Under the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, if the district courts rule in favour of the federal government, the defendants will lose their citizenship status, have their passports cancelled, and face potential deportation proceedings back to their country of origin.
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