United States federal authorities have arrested a former US Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, officer, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye over an alleged multi-year scheme involving illegal payments in exchange for manipulating and expediting immigration applications.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas said Ganiyu, a former Senior Immigration Services Officer with USCIS, and Somoye were arrested on September 2 following a federal criminal complaint filed on August 31.
According to the complaint, Ganiyu allegedly used his official position between December 2019 and March 2026 to approve immigration applications in exchange for money.
The applications reportedly included petitions for relatives, applications for permanent residence, petitions to remove conditions on residence and applications for US citizenship.
Investigators alleged that Ganiyu bypassed mandatory interviews, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional restrictions, background checks and other standard USCIS procedures to unlawfully expedite applications, including those involving applicants who were allegedly ineligible under federal law.
Authorities further alleged that Ganiyu and Somoye collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from applicants, with several payments allegedly corresponding directly with immigration approvals issued by Ganiyu.
The investigation also uncovered extensive WhatsApp communications between the defendants and applicants whose cases they allegedly handled, including thousands of messages and hundreds of telephone calls during the period under investigation.
“The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said.
He added that the FBI and its law enforcement partners remained committed to holding accountable individuals who abuse positions of public trust.
Ganiyu and Somoye made their initial appearances before a US Magistrate Judge on September 2.
Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
The USCIS Office of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case, while Assistant US Attorney Chad Meacham is prosecuting it.
US authorities stressed that the criminal complaint contains allegations and does not constitute evidence of guilt.
Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
