The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship of a Nigerian-born man, Emmanuel Oluwatosin Kazeem, following revelations of a large-scale identity theft and tax fraud operation.
According to authorities, Kazeem was previously convicted in 2017 for his role in a sophisticated scheme that targeted more than 259,000 individuals. Investigators say the operation involved filing thousands of fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities, with an estimated $91 million in attempted losses to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The DOJ alleges that Kazeem engaged in fraudulent activities both before and after obtaining US citizenship, raising questions about the legitimacy of his naturalisation process. Officials claim that proceeds from the scheme were moved across borders, including substantial transfers to Nigeria.
In its filing, the Department of Justice described citizenship obtained through deception as “a privilege never lawfully granted,” emphasizing its commitment to holding individuals accountable for immigration and financial crimes.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by US authorities to crack down on identity theft and tax fraud, particularly schemes involving transnational networks. Legal proceedings to determine the revocation of Kazeem’s citizenship are currently underway.