US Names 24 Nigerians Arrested Over Alleged Fraud, Money Laundering and Other Offences
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration authorities over alleged criminal offences, including fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault and weapons violations.
The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration enforcement campaign, with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carrying out arrests in different parts of the country.
According to information published by DHS, the individuals were apprehended in several states and were identified in a list detailing their names, the alleged offences associated with their cases and the locations of their arrests.
The offences cited by the department range from wire fraud and mail fraud to money laundering, drug possession, the sale of amphetamines, forgery, impersonation, false citizenship claims and cruelty towards a child.
In announcing the arrests, DHS described the individuals as part of its effort to identify non-US citizens with criminal records who have been apprehended by immigration enforcement officers.
“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
It added: “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”
The department’s announcement forms part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement drive, which has placed increased emphasis on removing non-US citizens targeted under its enforcement priorities.
Full list of the 24 Nigerians and alleged offences
The following individuals were named in the DHS publication, alongside the offences listed against them and the locations where they were arrested:
Emmanuel Omowaiye — Mail fraud; arrested in Richmond, Texas.
Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and impersonation; arrested in Chantilly, Virginia.
Olusegun Shonekan — Wire fraud; arrested in Newark, New Jersey.
Olusegun Olaseni — Sale of amphetamines; arrested in Greencastle, Indiana.
Peter Ude — Wire fraud; arrested in Atlanta, Georgia.
Newton Jemide — Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Shedrack Umukoro — Money laundering; arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and impersonation; arrested in Kearny, New Jersey.
Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; arrested in Conroe, Texas.
Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug possession; arrested in Chicago, Illinois.
Joshua Ipoade — Wire fraud; arrested in Atlanta, Georgia.
Michael Orji — Weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin.
Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related offence; arrested in Baltimore, Maryland.
Teslim Kiriji — Money laundering; arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Onomen Uduebor — Identity theft; arrested in Seattle, Washington.
Charles Ochi — Money laundering; arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Eta — Wire fraud; arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania.
Ifeanyi Ibennah — Cruelty towards a child; arrested in Tampa, Florida.
Kazeem Runsewe — Wire fraud; arrested in Thomson, Illinois.
Fatiu Lawal — Wire fraud; arrested in Lompoc, California.
Justin Akubueze — Money laundering; arrested in Orem, Utah.
Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property; arrested in Orlando, Florida.
Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — Assault; arrested in Alden, New York.
Bright Eigbedion — Money laundering; arrested in Lompoc, California.
Fraud and financial offences feature prominently
The published list includes several individuals associated with alleged financial crimes, particularly wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.
Wire fraud was listed against Olusegun Shonekan, Peter Ude, Joshua Ipoade, Daniel Eta, Kazeem Runsewe and Fatiu Lawal. Newton Jemide was associated with wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud.
Money laundering was listed against Shedrack Umukoro, Teslim Kiriji, Charles Ochi, Justin Akubueze and Bright Eigbedion. Michael Orji was associated with money laundering alongside several other alleged offences, including identity theft, wire fraud, fraud, a weapons violation and false citizenship.
Other entries concerned fraud and impersonation, drug possession, the sale of amphetamines, identity theft, larceny, forgery, assault and alleged cruelty towards a child.
The arrests occurred across multiple jurisdictions, including Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, Utah, California and New York.
Immigration enforcement and deportation proceedings
DHS presented the publication as part of its wider effort to publicise arrests involving non-US citizens with criminal records and to demonstrate progress in the administration’s mass deportation campaign.
However, the information released by the department did not specify the final immigration status of each of the 24 Nigerians or provide detailed information about the progress of their individual deportation proceedings.
It also did not establish that every person named had already been deported from the United States.
The distinction is important because an arrest and the listing of an alleged offence do not, on their own, establish a criminal conviction. The published information does not provide a comprehensive account of the evidence, court outcomes or individual legal circumstances of all those named.
Consequently, the allegations should be understood as offences associated with the individuals in the immigration authorities’ announcement, rather than as proof that every listed allegation has resulted in a conviction.
The release of the names and photographs underscores the Trump administration’s continuing emphasis on immigration enforcement and its stated intention to prioritise the removal of people it identifies as criminal offenders.
Further details about the individuals’ respective criminal cases, immigration proceedings and ultimate legal status were not provided in the published announcement.
By fLEXI tEAM
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