The United State Department of Justice has announced charges against 16 individuals, including three Nigerians, in connection with illegal voting, illegal voter registration, and related election-fraud schemes across the country. 

This was announced in a press release issued on Friday, September 18, 2026.

The charges include unlawful voting by non-citizens in federal elections, false claims of citizenship to register or vote, and related offenses including wire fraud, naturalization fraud, passport fraud, and unlawful firearm purchases uncovered during the course of these investigations.

A Nigerian national, Helen Sayen Adams, 67, a lawful permanent resident since May 2024, was charged with Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election and False Statement of Citizenship in Order to Register to Vote

Another Nigerian national, Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, 27, a lawful permanent resident since 2016, has been charged with false statements in relation to naturalization.

Earlier, a Nigerian national, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, 56, a lawful permanent resident, was arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 elections and allegedly voting in the 2024 general election.