A senior officer from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, has been accused of accepting nearly $960,000 in bribes for approving immigration applications unlawfully.
Ganiyu and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, were charged by federal prosecutors for running a bribery scheme from December 2019 to March 2026.
They received payments from immigration applicants to expedite or improperly assist their applications, often bypassing required procedures.
Investigators found evidence of communication between Ganiyu, Somoye, and applicants, with a majority of applicants coming from African countries.
Ganiyu allegedly received around $671,438 through digital payment platforms and $287,830 in cash deposits to hide the money's origin. Somoye managed approximately $1.7 million in transfers.
Ganiyu had an annual salary of $67,732, while Somoye reported earning only $7,506.
Both men were arrested on September 2 and face charges that could lead to five years in prison.
This case highlights serious concerns about public corruption within federal immigration processes, with the US Attorney emphasizing that such abuses will not be tolerated.
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