A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, has been arrested and accused of taking nearly $1 million in payments in exchange for manipulating immigration cases, including green card and citizenship applications.

The federal corruption case is another reminder that immigration fraud investigations are becoming increasingly aggressive in 2026 — and that applicants who become involved with anyone promising guaranteed approvals, special USCIS connections, or unusually fast processing could face serious consequences long after their cases are approved.

What Federal Prosecutors Say Happened

Federal authorities arrested former USCIS Senior Immigration Services Officer Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and his alleged associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, in September 2026.

Prosecutors allege that from approximately December 2019 through March 2026, Ganiyu used his position inside USCIS to manipulate and expedite immigration cases in exchange for money.

The applications allegedly involved some of the most common immigration benefits handled by USCIS, including:

I-130 family petitions;
I-485 applications for adjustment of status and green cards;
I-751 petitions to remove conditions on residence; and
N-400 applications for U.S. citizenship.

According to federal investigators, this was not simply a matter of moving cases to the front of the line.

Ganiyu is accused of bypassing required interviews, criminal and security background checks, supervisory review, USCIS jurisdictional rules, and other normal procedures in order to obtain approvals for applicants. Prosecutors allege that some applicants were not legally eligible for the immigration benefits they received.

Nearly $1 Million in Alleged Payments

Media reports examining the federal complaint say investigators identified approximately $960,000 in payments allegedly connected to the scheme involving Ganiyu and Somoye.

Authorities reportedly traced hundreds of thousands of dollars through electronic payment platforms such as Zelle and Cash App, as well as substantial cash deposits.

Investigators also reportedly reviewed thousands of WhatsApp messages and hundreds of calls involving the defendants and immigration applicants whose cases were allegedly being handled through the scheme.

The investigation shows how much electronic evidence the federal government can obtain when investigating suspected immigration fraud.

Text messages, WhatsApp conversations, bank transfers, Cash App payments, Zelle transactions, emails, phone records, USCIS computer access logs, and immigration files can potentially become evidence years later.

Ganiyu Allegedly Pulled Cases From Other USCIS Offices

One particularly serious allegation is that Ganiyu did not limit himself to cases normally assigned to his own USCIS office.

According to reporting on the criminal complaint, investigators say Ganiyu allegedly caused cases to be rerouted from USCIS offices in other cities, including Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Houston, so that he could personally handle or approve them.

That type of unusual activity can create an electronic record.

Modern USCIS files are not simply paper folders sitting on one officer’s desk. The government can review who accessed a case, who changed information, where the case was assigned, who approved it, and whether normal procedures were followed.

An immigration approval that appears suspicious today can therefore be investigated years after USCIS originally issued the green card or citizenship certificate.

The Accused Approved His Associate’s Own Citizenship Case

Reports concerning the complaint also contain a particularly striking allegation involving Ganiyu’s alleged associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye.

Investigators reportedly allege that Ganiyu assigned himself Somoye’s own naturalization application and approved the case on the same day.

Ganiyu later allegedly handled immigration matters involving Somoye’s wife and child as well.

Federal authorities are now examining these approvals as part of the broader corruption investigation.

Both Ganiyu and Somoye have been charged, not convicted. They are presumed innocent unless the government proves the allegations against them in court.

What Happens to Immigrants Who Received Benefits Through the Accused Former USCIS Officer?

This is where the criminal investigation could become extremely important for immigration applicants.

Arresting Ganiyu may only be the beginning.

Federal investigators can now review immigration files handled or accessed by Ganiyu and determine whether individual applicants actually qualified for the benefits they received.

If an applicant was genuinely eligible and had no knowledge of wrongdoing, the situation may be very different from that of someone who knowingly paid money for an improper approval.

But if investigators believe an immigrant knowingly participated in fraud, bribery, false statements, or misrepresentation, the consequences can be severe.

Depending on the facts, the government could potentially:

reopen or reexamine an immigration case;
deny a pending immigration benefit;
seek removal from the United States;
investigate whether permanent residence was improperly obtained;
challenge a later naturalization application;
pursue denaturalization after citizenship has already been granted; or
refer conduct for criminal investigation.

An approved case does not necessarily become untouchable simply because several years have passed.

Citizenship Does Not Always End the Government’s Ability to Investigate Fraud

The Ganiyu case comes at a time when the Department of Justice has been placing renewed emphasis on immigration fraud and denaturalization.

Federal authorities have recently pursued alleged marriage fraud operations and cases seeking to revoke citizenship from certain naturalized citizens accused of obtaining immigration benefits through fraud, concealment, or material misrepresentation.

This makes an applicant’s complete immigration history increasingly important.

When someone applies for citizenship, USCIS can review how that person originally obtained a visa, green card, conditional residence, asylum, or another immigration benefit.

If the underlying green card was not lawfully obtained, that issue can potentially become a serious problem during naturalization — even many years later.

Be Extremely Careful With Anyone Claiming to Have an Inside Connection at USCIS

Immigrants frequently encounter people who make promises such as:

I know someone inside USCIS.

I can guarantee your approval.

I can make your case move faster.

You do not need an interview.

I have someone who can fix the case.

Just pay this additional fee and everything will be approved.

These statements should be enormous warning signs.

There are legitimate ways to request expedited processing in appropriate immigration cases. There are also lawful attorney’s fees, USCIS filing fees, premium processing fees for eligible applications, and other legitimate expenses.

Paying someone because that person supposedly has a secret relationship with a USCIS officer is entirely different.

If someone asks you for cash or electronic payments to obtain an immigration approval through an inside government connection, do not participate.

What If Ganiyu or Someone Else Who Offered to Accept a Bribe Handled Your Immigration Case?

Anyone whose immigration application was handled, approved, or unusually processed by Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu or anyone else claiming to work for USCIS and offering to accept bribes may want to speak privately with an experienced immigration attorney before filing another immigration application or communicating with federal investigators.

Every case is different.

Some immigrants may have had completely legitimate cases and may have had no knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing.

Others may have believed they were paying ordinary legal or processing fees without understanding what an intermediary was allegedly doing behind the scenes.

The exact facts matter enormously.

Do not assume that simply because Ganiyu handled or approved your immigration case you committed immigration fraud. At the same time, do not assume that a prior approval means the government can never review the case again.

An attorney can review the underlying immigration application, eligibility, payment history, communications, and future immigration risks before determining what action, if any, should be taken.

Immigration Fraud Enforcement Is Increasing in 2026

The criminal case against Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye is part of a broader federal focus on immigration fraud, public corruption, false immigration filings, marriage fraud, and improperly obtained immigration benefits.

For immigrants, there is a simple lesson:

Your immigration case should be built to survive future scrutiny — not simply to obtain an approval today.

Every statement in an application should be truthful.

Every document should be legitimate.

Your new application should be consistent with your previous immigration filings.

And nobody should ever promise that an immigration benefit can simply be purchased through a connection inside the government.

Contact Shepelsky Law Group

If Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu handled your USCIS case, or if you are concerned about a previous immigration application, unusual approval, prior immigration preparer, possible fraud or misrepresentation, or information contained in an old USCIS filing, it is better to address the issue before USCIS raises it during a green card or citizenship case.

Shepelsky Law Group represents clients in complex immigration matters, including adjustment of status, family immigration, asylum, VAWA, T visas, waivers, removal defense, naturalization, motions to reopen, and cases involving prior immigration problems.

If you are worried that something in your immigration history could create a problem now or in the future, contact Shepelsky Law Group to schedule a confidential immigration consultation.

Call Shepelsky Law Group at (718) 769-6352 or book your consultation at www.ShepelskyLaw.com to discuss your immigration case.