US Authorities Arrest Former Immigration Official Over Alleged Corruption Scheme
Pecohub US federal authorities have arrested Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former Senior Immigration Services Officer with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, over an alleged multi-year corruption scheme involving immigration applications.
The US Department of Justice said the two men were arrested on September 2 after a federal criminal complaint accused them of conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
According to federal prosecutors, Ganiyu allegedly used his position between December 2019 and March 2026 to manipulate and approve immigration applications in exchange for money.
Investigators alleged that required interviews, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional limitations, background checks and other standard USCIS procedures were bypassed to expedite approvals, including applications for permanent residency and US citizenship.
The Justice Department said investigators also uncovered extensive communications between the suspects and applicants, while alleging that the pair collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments connected to immigration approvals.
Both men have made their initial court appearances and each faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
Federal authorities stressed that the criminal complaint contains allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
