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The United States Department of Justice has launched what it described as the largest coordinated effort in its history to revoke the citizenship of naturalised Americans, targeting individuals from 17 countries accused of obtaining US citizenship through fraud, concealment or other unlawful means.
The civil denaturalisation actions, filed in various US district courts between July 20 and August 3, 2026, involve 25 naturalised citizens facing allegations ranging from identity fraud and sham marriages to violent crimes, child sexual abuse and financial crimes, reports The PUNCH.
According to the Justice Department in a post on its website on Monday, and seen by our correspondent today said the move forms part of a broader crackdown by the administration of President Donald Trump on immigration fraud and abuse of the naturalisation process.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said US citizenship remains one of the country’s highest privileges and must be obtained lawfully.
He stated that the cases involve individuals accused of concealing violent crimes, child sexual offences, fraudulent identities and other facts that would have disqualified them from becoming US citizens.
Blanche added that the latest filings represent the largest coordinated denaturalisation action in the department’s history, noting that authorities would continue using every legal tool to protect the integrity of the naturalisation process.
He stated, “Today’s filings represent the largest coordinated denaturalization effort in Department history, but they are only the beginning. The Justice Department will continue to use every tool available to protect the integrity of the naturalization process and the safety of the American people.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate also described the action as the biggest denaturalisation surge on record, saying those targeted had committed offences incompatible with US citizenship.
Brett said, “Today marks the largest denaturalisation surge in recorded history. Every one of these individuals committed crimes incompatible with U.S. citizenship. We are moving at record speed to denaturalize those who sought to deceive the federal government and abuse the naturalization process.”
The Justice Department said it has filed 123 civil denaturalisation complaints since January 20, 2025, the highest number ever recorded.
Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, naturalised citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained illegally or through concealment of material facts or deliberate misrepresentation.
Nigerians affected are:
Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan (56)
The Justice Department alleges that Obasohan obtained US citizenship after concealing a previous identity and a deportation order issued against him under another name.
Department of Justice noted, “On July 21, the United States filed a case in the District of Massachusetts seeking the denaturalization of Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan because he obtained his citizenship under a fake identify, after he was already subject to an order of deportation under his true identify. Before Mr. Obasohan, a native of Nigeria, became a permanent resident and later naturalized as a U.S. citizen under the name Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan, he was previously ordered to be deported from the United States under the name Tinosa Joe Aigbedion.
“At no point during his naturalization proceedings did Mr. Obasohan disclose that he previously used the name Tinosa Joe Aigbedion or that he had a current order of deportation pending against him. The United States has filed a five-count complaint against Mr. Obasohan seeking his denaturalization on the grounds that he was statutorily ineligible to naturalize, never lawfully obtained his permanent residence, and made numerous material misstatements to immigration officials. (District of Massachusetts).”
Yetunde Folake Olaniyi (56)
Also known as Folake Rosemary Thomas, Olaniyi is accused of concealing her identity, entering into what the government described as a sham marriage, and obtaining immigration benefits through false representations.
Department of Justice stated, “On July 31, the Department of Justice filed a case in the District of Maryland seeking the denaturalisation of Yetunde Folake Olaniyi, also known as Folake Rosemary Thomas, a native of Nigeria. Olaniyi was ordered removed from the United States and rather than report for her scheduled removal flight, she adopted the identity of Folake Rosemary Thomas and entered into a sham marriage with a U.S. citizen, notwithstanding that she was already married to another Nigerian citizen. Through this sham marriage and by concealing her true identity, Olaniyi was granted a green card through her spouse.
“Three years later, Olaniyi naturalized as Folake Rosemary Thomas. In 2014, Olaniyi (as Thomas) was convicted in federal court for passport fraud after fingerprint checks revealed her true identity to be Olaniyi. The seven-count civil Complaint alleges Olaniyi was ineligible for a spousal green card and naturalization through her spouse because her marriage to the U.S. citizen was both a sham and legally invalid, that Olaniyi obtained her naturalisation through a litany of willful misrepresentations of material facts, and that Olaniyi lacked the requisite good moral character required for naturalization. (District of Maryland).”
Vivian Chike Obichere (72)
The department alleges that Obichere concealed information during her naturalisation process, including the use of another person’s identity in obtaining a passport.
The statement read, “Vivian Chike Obichere (Nigeria/Age 72): On July 30, the Department of Justice filed a denaturalization action in the Northern District of California seeking the denaturalization of Vivian Chike Obichere. Ms. Obichere is a native of Nigeria who naturalized as a United States citizen in 2013, and represented throughout her naturalisation proceedings that she had never committed crimes for which she was not arrested, had used only one alias while in the United States, had not taken trips outside of the United States during the relevant period, and had never given misleading information to any United States official.
“However, she later pleaded guilty to False Application and Use of a Passport, and admitted the falsity of all of those attestations. Specifically, Ms. Obichere admitted that she had concealed, during her naturalization proceedings, that she had previously applied for and used a passport with the name and identifying information of another person, who was a United States citizen.
“Accordingly, the Department of Justice is pursuing revocation of Ms. Obichere’s naturalization on three counts related to her statutory ineligibility for denaturalization as a person barred from establishing good moral character, and one count of illegal procurement of naturalization by concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation. (Northern District of California).”
See full list of the 25 individuals named in the lawsuits are nationals of 17 countries:
S/N Name Country of origin Age (as stated by DOJ)
1 Zia Murad Bhatti (also known as Raza Moorad) Pakistan 59
2 Tatiana Power Moldova 46
3 Narinder Singh India 65
4 Emigdio Sanchez Mexico 62
5 Luisa Fernanda Ordonez Colombia 54
6 Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan Nigeria 56
7 Enos Fong Korti Liberia 51
8 Yetunde Folake Olaniyi (also known as Folake Rosemary Thomas) Nigeria 56
9 Mohd Wasif (also known as Mohammad Khanwasif) Pakistan 56/58
10 Esther Quayle Ghana 50
11 Dwyane Robinson Jamaica 44
12 Yi Lee Taiwan 46
13 Eddie Jones Appah Ghana 66/67
14 Jose Luis Martinez-Zavala Mexico 80
15 Vivian Chike Obichere Nigeria 72
16 Jose Francisco Cruz Honduras 72
17 Francois Nguessi Dame Cameroon 65
18 Haitham A. Mustafa Jordan 58
19 Jairo Javier Pedron Tellez Cuba 29
20 Carlos Ernesto Giron El Salvador 65
21 Juan Camilo Montoya Colombia 34
22 Cantave Previlon Haiti 63
23 Syed Tanweer Ahmad (also known as Timothy Syed Andersson/Tanweer Ahmad Syed) Sweden 82
24 Miguel Eduardo Romero El Salvador 67
25 Manuel Antonio La Rosa-Lopez Peru 68
