Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu is facing federal charges after authorities accused the former immigration officer of participating in a years-long scheme involving payments for immigration case approvals and expedited processing.
The case emerged publicly after federal authorities announced the arrests of Ganiyu and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye earlier this month. Prosecutors allege that the two men worked together to manipulate immigration applications and bypass normal procedures in exchange for money.
The allegations have attracted national attention because the case involves a former federal employee who allegedly used access to an immigration system to influence applications for permanent residency, citizenship and other benefits.
Federal Case Emerges After September Arrests
Federal agents arrested Ganiyu and Somoye on September 2, 2026, after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint in federal court on August 31.
Both men appeared before a federal magistrate judge on the day of their arrests. They face a charge of conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
Prosecutors say the alleged activity stretched from December 2019 through March 2026. During that period, Ganiyu allegedly used his position within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to influence cases for applicants who paid money.
The allegations cover several years rather than a single transaction. Investigators say they uncovered financial records and extensive electronic communications while examining the alleged operation.
The case remains at the allegation stage, and neither defendant has been convicted.
What Ganiyu Allegedly Did
According to prosecutors, Ganiyu used his position as a Senior Immigration Services Officer to interfere with the normal processing of immigration applications.
Investigators allege that he could access cases and move them through the system in ways that avoided normal safeguards.
The allegations include bypassing:
- Required interviews
- Background checks
- Supervisory review
- Jurisdictional restrictions
- Standard case-processing procedures
- Other immigration review requirements
Prosecutors further allege that some applicants who benefited from the arrangement did not qualify for the immigration benefits they received.
The government claims that payments were connected to specific immigration decisions and that several transactions corresponded with approvals issued by Ganiyu.
Several Types of Immigration Applications Were Involved
The allegations are not limited to citizenship applications.
According to the federal complaint, the cases included several major immigration forms.
One category involved Form I-130, which is used for qualifying family-based immigration petitions.
Another involved Form I-485, which is generally used by eligible applicants seeking permanent residence or adjustment of status.
The investigation also involved Form I-751, which concerns the removal of conditions on certain permanent resident status.
Applications for naturalization were also allegedly involved. Those cases use Form N-400, the standard application for people seeking U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu manipulated cases across these categories for financial gain.
That allegation makes the investigation broader than a conventional bribery case involving a single immigration application.
Alleged Payments Approached $1 Million
One of the most significant details in the case involves the amount of money investigators say Ganiyu received.
According to court-related information, investigators identified approximately $671,438 in payments sent through services including Zelle and Cash App.
Prosecutors also allege that Ganiyu made cash deposits totaling approximately $287,830.
Together, those amounts approach $960,000.
Investigators say the transactions were connected to the alleged immigration operation. The government is expected to rely on financial records as part of its case.
The amount is significant because prosecutors are not describing the alleged conduct as an isolated payment. Instead, they say the financial activity occurred over an extended period.
Somoye Allegedly Served as a Financial Intermediary
Adeniyi Akeem Somoye is accused of playing an important role in the alleged operation.
Investigators say Somoye handled money connected with applicants and acted as a financial intermediary.
Court documents cited in current reporting indicate that Somoye processed approximately $1.7 million in transfers involving applicants. Those transactions allegedly involved bank accounts as well as electronic payment services.
Investigators also identified approximately $449,010 in cash deposits associated with Somoye, according to the allegations.
Prosecutors allege that Somoye retained part of the money while facilitating payments connected with immigration cases.
The financial allegations are expected to be an important part of the government’s effort to establish how the operation allegedly worked.
Thousands of WhatsApp Messages Examined
Digital communications are another major element of the investigation.
Authorities reportedly uncovered thousands of WhatsApp messages involving Ganiyu, Somoye and people whose immigration cases were being handled.
Investigators also identified hundreds of calls during the period covered by the complaint.
The communications allegedly helped investigators connect applicants, payments and immigration cases.
Such evidence could become important as prosecutors attempt to establish whether payments were knowingly exchanged for official actions.
The messages may also help investigators reconstruct the alleged relationship between the former immigration officer, his associate and applicants.
Cases Were Allegedly Moved Between USCIS Offices
Another significant allegation concerns the way immigration cases were handled inside the agency.
Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu rerouted certain applications from USCIS field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte and Houston.
The government says this allowed him to gain control over cases that would otherwise have been handled by officials in other locations.
Investigators allege that the transfers helped Ganiyu avoid local supervisory oversight.
The alleged practice is central to the case because immigration processing normally follows established jurisdictional and administrative procedures.
According to prosecutors, bypassing those controls allowed certain applications to receive unusually quick treatment.
Citizenship Case Involving Somoye Draws Attention
One of the allegations involving the defendants personally concerns Somoye’s own immigration status.
Prosecutors allege that Ganiyu helped accelerate Somoye’s citizenship application.
The complaint also alleges that Ganiyu later approved residency-related applications involving Somoye’s wife and child.
Those allegations have become an important part of the case because they allegedly show how the relationship between the two men extended beyond transactions involving outside applicants.
Prosecutors will need to establish the facts behind those allegations as the case moves through federal court.
Most Cases Allegedly Involved African Applicants
Investigators reportedly found that many of the citizenship cases handled as part of the alleged operation involved applicants from African countries.
That detail has emerged in reporting based on the federal allegations.
However, the government’s case concerns alleged conduct by the defendants rather than the nationality or background of applicants.
The key allegation is that money was exchanged for immigration-related actions that should have been handled according to federal rules.
The identities of individual applicants and the status of their immigration cases could become clearer through future court filings.
Ganiyu Left USCIS Before His Arrest
Ganiyu was no longer working for USCIS when federal agents arrested him.
According to current reports, he resigned from the agency in March 2026. Reports indicate that he gave personal reasons for leaving.
His departure came at the end of the period identified by prosecutors in the criminal complaint.
Several months later, federal authorities arrested him in connection with the investigation.
The timing of his resignation and subsequent arrest is likely to remain an important part of the public discussion surrounding the case.
What Federal Prosecutors Are Alleging
At the center of the government’s case is the allegation that Ganiyu used his federal position for personal financial benefit.
Prosecutors claim he had access to immigration systems and used that access to speed up applications for people connected to the alleged payment network.
The government also alleges that standard safeguards were deliberately bypassed.
These allegations include cases where applicants allegedly skipped interviews or other reviews that would normally form part of the adjudication process.
Prosecutors further claim that some applications were approved even though applicants allegedly did not meet federal requirements.
These claims have not yet been established at trial.
The Charge Against the Two Defendants
Ganiyu and Somoye are charged with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
The charge relates to the government’s allegation that the defendants agreed to exchange money for official actions involving immigration applications.
If convicted, each defendant faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Those figures represent the statutory maximum described by federal authorities. They do not indicate what sentence either defendant will receive.
The final outcome will depend on the court proceedings and evidence presented in the case.
Who Is Investigating the Case?
Several federal investigative bodies participated in the investigation.
The investigation involved the USCIS Office of Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office.
Federal prosecutors are handling the case through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
The involvement of multiple agencies reflects the federal nature of the allegations.
Investigators examined financial activity, communications and immigration case records as they developed the case against the defendants.
Why the Case Matters
The allegations are significant because immigration decisions can have major consequences for applicants and their families.
A permanent residence decision can determine whether an individual receives lawful status in the United States. A naturalization decision can ultimately affect eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
That makes the integrity of the adjudication process especially important.
The allegations against Ganiyu raise questions about whether individual applications were improperly moved, accelerated or approved.
The case may also provide investigators with information about how the alleged network operated and whether additional people could become relevant to the investigation.
At this stage, however, there is no final court finding that the alleged scheme occurred as prosecutors describe it.
What Happens Next in the Case
The federal prosecution is still developing.
The arrests and criminal complaint represent the beginning of the court process rather than its conclusion.
Future proceedings could reveal additional information about the financial records, communications and immigration applications investigators reviewed.
Prosecutors may also present additional evidence as the case moves forward.
The defendants have the right to challenge the government’s allegations and evidence.
A criminal complaint alone does not establish guilt. The government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt before a criminal conviction can be entered.
Latest Status
The latest available information shows that Ganiyu and Somoye have been arrested and charged in federal court.
Ganiyu is a former USCIS Senior Immigration Services Officer. Prosecutors allege that he used his former government position to manipulate immigration applications in exchange for payments.
Somoye is accused of helping handle the financial side of the alleged arrangement.
The government says the alleged activity continued for more than six years and involved multiple types of immigration applications.
Investigators have also identified substantial financial transactions and extensive communications between the defendants and applicants.
The case remains unresolved, and additional developments could emerge through future federal court proceedings.
What to Watch Going Forward
The next major developments are likely to involve the defendants’ court proceedings and any additional filings made by prosecutors or defense attorneys.
Future documents could provide more information about:
- The number of immigration cases allegedly affected
- The applicants involved in the investigation
- The financial records examined by investigators
- Communications between the defendants and applicants
- The alleged movement of cases between USCIS offices
- The government’s evidence supporting the charge
- Any response from the defendants and their attorneys
Those developments could provide a clearer picture of the allegations and the evidence behind them.
For now, the central facts remain that two men have been arrested, a federal complaint has been filed, and prosecutors accuse them of participating in a long-running scheme involving immigration applications and payments.
The allegations are serious, but the legal process must determine what can ultimately be proven in court.
What do you think about the latest developments in this case? Share your thoughts below and stay informed as the federal proceedings continue.