DOJ Targets Two Nigerians for Citizenship Revocation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated proceedings to revoke the American citizenship of two Nigerians, Beatrice Chioma Nwaoha Ashamole, aged 54, and Semiu Olaiye Ijelu, aged 58, as part of a broader denaturalisation effort targeting 40 individuals.

The DOJ announced this initiative on October 5, 2026, marking it as the largest single-period denaturalisation filing in U.S. history. A complaint against Ashamole was filed in the District of Maryland on September 25, 2026, accusing her of failing to disclose prior aliases, arrests, and deportations during her naturalisation process, which constitutes fraud and false testimony.

A separate complaint against Ijelu was filed on October 2, 2026, in the Northern District of Georgia, alleging he used multiple identities to obtain immigration benefits and did not disclose a prior removal order during his naturalisation in 2009. The DOJ claims both individuals did not meet the good moral character requirement for citizenship.

The allegations remain unproven until a determination of liability is made.