US Seeks to Strip Nigerian-Born Convict of Citizenship Over Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
- May 19
- 2 min read
The United States government has commenced legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of a Nigerian-born man, Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, following his conviction in a massive identity theft and tax fraud operation that allegedly cost American authorities millions of dollars.
According to documents filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, the case was submitted before a federal court in Maryland, where prosecutors accused Kazeem of securing American citizenship through fraudulent means while concealing criminal activities linked to an organised fraud network.
Kazeem was previously convicted in 2017 on multiple charges, including mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. He received a 15-year prison sentence for his role in the scheme, although his sentence was later reduced in 2024 after spending several years behind bars.
American authorities said the fresh legal action is part of ongoing efforts to withdraw citizenship from individuals found to have obtained naturalisation unlawfully. Officials argued that Kazeem’s alleged criminal activities started before he became a U.S. citizen and continued afterward, making him ineligible for naturalisation under U.S. law.
Investigators also alleged that he entered into a fraudulent marriage arrangement to secure permanent residency before later marrying another woman. Prosecutors claimed the alleged sham marriage further undermined the legitimacy of his citizenship status.
The investigation reportedly began after a resident in Oregon alerted tax authorities that fraudulent tax returns had been filed using the personal information of family members. Subsequent raids carried out across several states reportedly uncovered debit cards, electronic devices, cash and financial records connected to fraudulent tax refund claims.
Authorities described Kazeem as the central figure behind the operation, alleging that the syndicate possessed personal information belonging to more than 259,000 individuals. Investigators further claimed he acquired tens of thousands of stolen identities from an overseas hacker who breached a company database in Oregon.
Court filings alleged that between 2012 and 2015, the group used the stolen identities to submit thousands of fake tax returns and bypass security systems put in place by the Internal Revenue Service. Prosecutors said the fraudulent filings sought over $91m in refunds, while more than $11.6m was successfully obtained.
Officials also alleged that large sums of money connected to the operation were transferred to Nigeria, including hundreds of transactions reportedly linked directly to Kazeem. Investigators claimed part of the proceeds was used to acquire property in the United States and support plans for a luxury hospitality project in Lagos. The case remains under review as U.S. authorities pursue the denaturalisation process.
Comments