The United States Department of Justice has announced that it has filed denaturalization actions in several U.S. district courts against 12 individuals, including a Nigerian national, over allegations of serious offenses such as providing material support to a terrorist organisation, committing war crimes, and sexual abuse of a minor.
The announcement was made in a press release on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Among those named is Nigerian-born George Oyakhire, who is accused of obtaining U.S. citizenship under a false identity.
According to the DOJ, Oyakhire first entered the United States on October 18, 1986, using a visa issued in his true name, George Ofuan Oyakhire. However, approximately two years later, on September 2, 1988, he allegedly obtained temporary resident status using the false identity “Oliver Bennett Oyakhire,” along with a falsified date of birth.
He subsequently adjusted his status to that of a lawful permanent resident on December 1, 1990, still using the false identity. On September 12, 1995, he is said to have filed an application for naturalization under the same false identity, which was approved on March 22, 1996. He ultimately became a naturalized U.S. citizen on April 22, 1996, as Oliver Bennett Oyakhire.
The Department of Justice stated that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. citizenship can be revoked if it was illegally obtained or acquired through concealment of material facts or willful misrepresentation.
“Individuals implicated in committing fraud, heinous crimes such as sexual abuse, or expressing support for terrorism should never have been naturalized as United States citizens,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system. Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law.”
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the DOJ’s Civil Division also stated that the department is accelerating denaturalization efforts.
“This Department of Justice continues to file denaturalization actions at record speeds to restore integrity in our naturalization process,” he said. “The disturbing criminal histories confirm these individuals should have never received the privilege of U.S. citizenship. We remain committed to leveraging every tool available under the law to pursue those who obtain their U.S. citizenship unlawfully.”
The cases are being handled by the DOJ’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and multiple U.S. Attorney’s Offices across several districts, including Arizona, Southern Florida, Eastern California, Minnesota, Middle Florida, Western Kentucky, the District of Columbia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern Iowa, and Northern Illinois.
