US names 24 Nigerians arrested for fraud, money laundering, drugs and renewed immigration crackdown – THISAGE

The United States has named 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities for crimes ranging from wire fraud and money laundering to drug violations, identity theft, assault and cruelty to a child, as President Donald Trump’s administration widens its crackdown on non-U.S. citizens with criminal records.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which released the names and photographs of the Nigerians, said they were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in several locations across the country.

The arrests span at least 14 states and cover crimes including mail and wire fraud, money laundering, fraud and impersonation, drug possession and sale, identity theft, forgery, theft, weapons violations and assault.

DHS has listed Nigerians among the foreign nationals highlighted in its “Worst of the Worst” screening campaign – an initiative used by the Trump administration to publicize arrests of non-US citizens with criminal records as it pushes forward tougher immigration enforcement and deportations.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst foreign criminals apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Under the leadership of DHS, the hard-working men and women of DHS and ICE are keeping President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here,” DHS said.

The release thus represents another indication of the administration’s increasingly aggressive immigration policy, under which federal authorities have prioritized the arrest and removal of noncitizens deemed public safety or immigration enforcement targets.

An analysis of the DHS list shows that fraud and money laundering represent a substantial portion of crimes associated with Nigerians.

Emmanuel Omowaiye was placed on the list for mail fraud following his arrest in Richmond, Texas, while Laurene Onwuka, arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, was placed on the list for fraud and identity theft.

Olusegun Shonekan, arrested in Newark, New Jersey; Peter Ude and Joshua Ipoade, both arrested in Atlanta, Georgia; Kazeem Runsewe, arrested in Thomson, Illinois; and Fatiu Lawal, arrested in Lompoc, California, were listed for wire fraud.

Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, was listed for wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud.

Five others – Shedrack Umukoro, Teslim Kiriji, Charles Ochi, Justin Akubueze and Bright Eigbedion – were listed for money laundering.

Umukoro and Kiriji were arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, while Ochi was arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania. Akubueze was arrested in Orem, Utah, and Eigbedion in Lompoc, California.

Olasoji Akinbode, arrested in Kearny, New Jersey, was placed on the fraud and identity theft list, while Oluwatosin Afolabi, arrested in Conroe, Texas, was placed on the fraud list.

Michael Orji, arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, had the widest range of crimes linked to his name. The DHS listed weapons violations, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering against him.

In addition to financial crimes, DHS listed Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, for selling amphetamines.

Alameen Adetunji Tokosi, arrested in Chicago, Illinois, was listed for drug possession, while Ahmadu Apooyin, arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, was listed for a drug-related offense.

Onomen Uduebor, arrested in Seattle, Washington, was placed on the list for identity theft, while Daniel Eta, arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania, was placed on the list for wire fraud.

Ifeanyi Ibennah, arrested in Tampa, Florida, was placed on the list for cruelty to a child, while Babajide Oluwaseun Phaseyi, arrested in Alden, New York, was placed on the list for assault.

Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, arrested in Orlando, Florida, was charged with theft, forgery and concealment of stolen property.

The 24 Nigerians and the crimes and arrest locations published by the DHS are:

1. Emmanuel Omowaiye – Postal Fraud; Richmond, Texas.

2. Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and Identity Theft; Chantilly, VA.

3. Olusegun Shonekan: wire fraud; Newark, New Jersey.

4. Olusegun Olaseni — Sale of amphetamines; Greencastle, Indiana.

5. Peter Ude – Electronic fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.

6. Newton Jemide – Electronic fraud, criminal conspiracy and postal fraud; Fort Dix, New Jersey.

7. Shedrack Umukoro — Money Laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.

8. Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and Identity Theft; Kearny, New Jersey.

9. Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; Conroe, Texas.

10. Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug Possession; Chicago, Illinois.

11. Joshua Ipoade – Electronic fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.

12. Michael Orji – Weapons violations, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin.

13. Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related crimes; Baltimore, Maryland.

14. Teslim Kiriji — Money Laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.

15. Onomen Uduebor — Identity Theft; Seattle, Washington.

16. Charles Ochi – Money Laundering; White Deer, Pennsylvania.

17. Daniel Eta – Electronic fraud; White Deer, Pennsylvania.

18. Ifeanyi Ibennah – Cruelty to a child; Tampa, Florida.

19. Kazeem Runsewe — Electronic fraud; Thomson, IL.

20. Fatiu Lawal – Electronic fraud; Lompoc, California.

21. Justin Akubueze – Money Laundering; Orem, Utah.

22. Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Theft, forgery and concealment of stolen property; Orlando, Florida.

23. Babajide Oluwaseun Phaseyi – Assault; Alden, New York.

24. Bright Eigbedion – Money Laundering; Lompoc, California.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has placed immigration enforcement at the center of his domestic agenda, ordering federal agencies to step up arrest, detention and removal operations.

ICE, an agency of DHS, is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws in the United States, including the identification, apprehension, and removal of foreign nationals subject to deportation.

The administration has particularly emphasized law enforcement against noncitizens with criminal records, presenting such arrests as evidence that its immigration policy is focused on public safety.

The release of photographs and identities as part of the “Worst of the Worst” campaign has become part of this strategy, with DHS publicly displaying foreign nationals arrested during ICE operations.

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