The third quarter of 2026 recorded more cases of Nigerians arrested, convicted, deported or jailed for various crimes more than the last two quarters.
The crimes ranged from wire fraud, drug trafficking to immigration fraud among others.
From the Americas to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and within Africa, the Peoples Gazette’s checks revealed that many Nigerians in the diaspora were caught in criminal acts.
In the period spanning July, August and September, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) submitted President Bola Tinubu’s criminal records to Judge Beryl Howell for her eyes only, while The Gazette also exclusively published the number of Nigerians jailed in U.S. Federal Prison the past 10 years, their offences, names and number years of their sentences.
This list, containing names of Nigerians arrested, undergoing trial or jailed abroad in the third quarter of this year, is not exhaustive.
Aderinsola Oluwanitemi and Banjo Poopla
The month of July started with the arrest of Ghana-based Nigerian, Aderinsola Oluwanitemi Adeleye, over alleged cybercrime and U.S. bank ATM card fraud, while Nigerian-born engineer Banjo Popoola was convicted for multimillion-dollar contract fraud in the U.S. on the the second day of the month.
Mr Popoola, a U.S.-based Nigerian who worked as a building inspector with the City of St. Louis, admitted to stealing $1.64 million meant for repairing decrepit buildings in St. Louis to sponsor a lavish wedding for his second wife, luxury cars, and other expenses.
Approximately 4,000 Nigerians jailed in U.S. in 10 years. On July 6, The Gazette exclusively published a full list, detailing the names and crimes of 4,000 Nigerians jailed in U.S. prison from 2016 to 2025 per document obtained from U.S. Federal Prison authorities.A further review of the documents show that at least 400 Nigerians were jailed for various crimes every year in U.S. federal prisons.
Afeez Adewale
In mid July, Internet fraudster Afeez Adewale was sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud related to the sextortion and death of a young man in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Also, the Ghana Police Service (GPS) arrested two Nigerian nationals, Daniel Victor Eze and David Oko Ewa, in connection with the alleged murder of their compatriot, Nkemujika Uzorchukwu, following a dispute over proceeds from online fraud.
Michael Ikechukwu declared wanted
The Canadian authorities declared a 28-year-old Nigerian Michael Ikechukwu wanted over allegations of criminal harassment and probation violation on July 18.
On July 25, six Nigerian nationals identified as Akachukwu Anikpe, Chineze Emmanuel Onyechere, Mazi Ejiofor Edochie, Emeka Frank Uzoije, Emmanuel Kelechi Ewulu and Ikechukwu Prince Umunnawere arrested by Thai security agencies for allegedly overstaying their visas and violating immigration laws, while Omololu Akinlolu, Chris Brown’s vocal coach, pleaded guilty alongside Chris Brown to a nightclub brawl in a London court. The duo risk three years in jail.
Bashir Oladimeji Lawal and Ada Otuka
A U.S.-based Nigerian correctional officer, Bashir Oladimeji Lawal, was arrested for public drunkenness in Texas on July 28, while on July 30 Nigerian Ada Otuka was arrested, convicted for U.S. election rigging and illegal voting by U.S. authorities.
205 Nigerians deported from Canada in 2026
On August 4, The Gazette reported that at least 205 Nigerians were among 10,607 illegal immigrants arrested and later deported from Canada in June 2026 based on official immigration removal statistics.
Data from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) showed that Nigeria rank among top 10 illegal immigrants deported from Canada in June. Out of a total of 10,607 illegal immigrants deported from Canada in June, Nigeria constituted almost two per cent.Also, The Gazette reported that 1,674 Nigerians were deported from Canada in six years.
Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan, Yetunde Folake Olaniyi, and Vivian Chike Obichere arrested for immigration fraud
Over immigration fraud, U.S. authorities filed for the denaturalisation of three three Nigerians, Jonathan Omorogieva Obasohan, Yetunde Folake Olaniyi, and Vivian Chike Obichere on August 5. The trio and 22 other persons made the list of 25 filed for denaturalisation on July 20, 2026, marking America’s largest denaturalisation effort ever, a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice noted.
Adedayo Fateru
A U.S. court sentenced a Nigerian and permanent resident of the United States, Adedayo Fateru, to seven years and three months in prison over his involvement in a $1.7 million money laundering racket on August 7, while a week later Ghana police captured Nigerian Augustine Okechukwu Maazi, and killed two gang members in failed bank robbery on August 14. Mr Maazi is undergoing trial.
Izuchukwu Odionye and Foluso Omole
A Nigerian, Izuchukwu Odionye, was arrested for involvement in drug trafficking in Vietnam, while Foluso Omole, charged over $5 million fraud, was arrested as he attempted fleeing Australia on August 18.
Oladipupo Atandare and Latifat Yusuf
Two Nigerians, Oladipupo Atandare and Latifat Yusuf, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking offences on August 20. Mr Atandare, 50, of Dagenham, and Ms Yusuf, 44, of Hornchurch, were first arraigned at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court.
In the UK, a Nigerian, Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, was nabbed among a gang of 11 drug couriers plotting to smuggle cannabis worth £13.8 million into the UK via Birmingham Airport on August 21. He pleaded guilty, while on August 24, a UK court sentenced a Nigerian, Olukanyinsola Odebode, to 12 years in prison for raping a woman and assault another lady.
Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle
On Agust 28, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) extradited Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle to the United States of America to face prosecution for allegedly sexually extorting two teenage boys in the U.S., resulting in their deaths.
Oluwasegun Baiyewu ans Hope Chioma Patrick
A U.S.-based Nigerian, Oluwasegun Baiyewu, was jailed for laundering $3.1 million via car shipments to Nigeria, while another Nigerian, Hope Chioma Patrick, was arrested and charged with child trafficking in Barbados.
Ediongseyene Essien and Olusegun Adejorin
The duo of Ediongseyene Essien and Olusegun Adejorin were both sentenced on August 30 by authorities of the respective countries they were based. A Nigerian ex-carer, Mr Essien was jailed in UK for robbing elderly patients, while U.S. court jailed Mr Adejorin for eight years for stealing $7.5 million from charities.
On September 1, a UK court sentenced Kolawole Erunkulu, a UK-based Nigerian taxi driver, to six years in prison for falling asleep at the wheel and causing the death of a man, while a U.S.-based Nigerian prison guard, Oluwayomi Obed Edom Adeola, was indicted in Texas after he was allegedly caught in possession of prohibited items inside a correctional facility.
Olusegun Onidare, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye
A Canada-based Nigerian man, Olusegun Onidare, was arrested and charged in connection with alleged sexual assault of two women in separate incidents in the municipality of Brampton, Ontario on September 3, while on September 6 two Nigerian nationals, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a USCIS official, and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, were arrested and charged to court for accepting bribes to manipulate and expedite immigration applications. The FBI later revealed how Mr Ganiyu made $1.7 million in green cards racketeering for Nigerian immigrants.
Raphael Oludemilade-Adebowale, Oluwayomi Obed Edom Adeola
ICE arrested Nigerian Raphael Oludemilade-Adebowale convicted of money laundering on September 10, while U.S.-based Nigerian prison guard Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Oluwayomi Obed Edom Adeola, earlier arrested in possession of prohibited items on the premises of a correctional facility, was allegedly caught with synthetic cannabinoid, commonly known as K2 and methamphetamine on September 12.
Six Nigerian cultists extradited to U.S. from South Africa
South African authorities, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), on September 13 announcedthe extradition of six Nigerian Black Axe cultists to the U.S. over their involvement in multimillion-dollar wire fraud and romance scams.
Sentencing of Nigerians who committed crimes in UK, U.S.
In mid September, Ejiroghene Okuma, a U.S.-based financial adviser, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for scamming a senior citizen of over $9 million dollars which he blew to purchase a $1.4 million beach club membership and $5 million luxury apartment in Georgia among other expenses.
On September 17, a UK-based registered sex offender Babatunde Odutola was jailed for masturbating on train, harassing woman, while U.S. authorities nabs Gladys Okafor for voting with green card status. Also a U.S.-based Nigerian prison officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Eberechukwu Emmanuel Igwe, was arrested and charged with assault for allegedly beating his wife during an argument over clothes and hats.
Nigerian lawyers disbarred, suspended for malpractices in U.S., UK
Between September 16 – 22, The Gazette published series of stories on Nigerian lawyers disciplined, disbarred, suspended for fraudlent practices in the U.S. and the UK. The series had the headlines: “FULL LIST: Names of Nigerian lawyers disbarred in U.S. for fraud, theft, corruption,” “Latest list of U.S.-based Nigerian lawyers suspended for fraud, mishandling client money, misrepresentation,” “Lincoln’s Inn barrister Chukwuma Emele disbarred in UK over Credo Law Office scandal,” UK tribunal penalises lawyer Benedicte Mabika after assault conviction,” “Nigerian UK-based lawyer Emmanuel Oduntan caught, sanctioned for concealing multiple criminal convictions.”
The series also included, “How Nigerian lawyer Aloysius Ejimakor was suspended from practising in U.S. courts over fraud” and “Disbarred Nigerian lawyer Owolabi Salis suffers fresh legal defeat as appeal dismissed.”
Joseph Nantomah and Joshua Akpom
While Nigerians Helen Adams and Joshua Akpom were arrested for voting illegally in the U.S. on September 19, Nigerian ‘Black Mentor’ Joseph Nantomah, motivational speaker, who bought fake doctorate, yacht with investors and church members’ money was jailed in U.S. on September 22.
Olamide Shanu and Olawunmi Johnson
On September 23, Olamide Shanu, a Lagos-based Yahoo Boy extradited to the U.S., pleaded guilty in the District of Idaho to charges related to cyber-fraud schemes that defrauded 150 American victims over $2,500,000, while ICE nabned Nigerian Olawunmi Johnson over illegal voting and false U.S. citizenship claim on September 24.
Chukwunonso Uzoma-Eze and Obiageriaku Jane Iheanacho
A Nigerian, Chukwunonso Uzoma-Eze, was arrested and charged with the murder of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football player Marvins Antoine on September 25, while ICE arrested convicted Nigerian Obiageriaku Jane Iheanacho and listed her among America’s “Worst of worst criminals” for deportation on September 26.
Ebunoluwa Tomiwa, Greg Chukwuka Orji and Michael Oluwapelumi Ademoye
While Canada-based Nigerian tech recruiter, Ebunoluwa Tomiwa, was arrested and charged by the country’s authorities over alleged human trafficking and sexual offences on September 27, ICE captured Nigerian Greg Chukwuka Orji convicted of dangerous drugs offences on September 28.
On September 30, Michael Oluwapelumi Ademoye, a Nigerian correctional officer based in the United States and once celebrated for his dedication to duty, was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into a Texas prison facility.
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