A former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer has been arrested in a case involving the alleged sale of immigration benefits. Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu faced arrest on September 2. Federal prosecutors reveal he participated in a corruption scheme related to immigration applications.
Details of the Charges
Prosecutors allege that from December 2019 to March 2026, Ganiyu exploited his USCIS role to approve immigration applications for financial gain. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, he unlawfully expedited permanent residency and citizenship applications, bypassing necessary federal reviews.
The applications in question included Form I-485, which is essential for individuals seeking green card status. Other applications involved family sponsorship, removal of residency conditions, and naturalization.
Communication and Financial Transactions
Ganiyu, along with his alleged partner Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, communicated extensively using WhatsApp to arrange these transactions. Prosecutors accuse them of collecting substantial sums from applicants. Somoye was also apprehended on September 2.
“Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” stated U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould in a statement. “When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately. Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.”
USCIS emphasized its stance against corruption in a post on X, declaring no tolerance for such violations within the agency.
This case is ongoing, with further updates anticipated.