Former US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu has been accused of accepting nearly $960,000 in bribes to manipulate immigration procedures and fast-track citizenship applications.
Ganiyu and his alleged accomplice, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, were arrested on September 2 after investigators uncovered thousands of WhatsApp messages involving them and immigration applicants.
Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu bypassed mandatory interviews, background checks and supervisory reviews to approve applications, including for people allegedly ineligible for citizenship. The scheme reportedly ran from December 2019 to March 2026, with most applicants from African countries.
Court documents showed Ganiyu received about $671,438 through Zelle and Cash App, as well as $287,830 in cash deposits. Somoye allegedly handled about $1.7 million in transfers and deposited $449,010 in cash.
Ganiyu also allegedly fast-tracked Somoye’s citizenship and approved residency applications for his wife and child. He resigned from USCIS in March, citing “personal reasons.” Both men face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
