US Nabs Two Nigerians for Voting in Elections as Non-Citizens

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged two Nigerian nationals with allegedly participating in federal elections despite not being American citizens, as authorities intensify efforts to investigate suspected voter fraud.

The two Nigerians were identified as 61-year-old Mohammed Omar Hassan and 74-year-old Michael Agah, according to a statement issued by the department on Monday.

Hassan was charged in the Southern District of Texas with voting as a non-citizen, while Agah faces charges in the Western District of North Carolina for allegedly voting illegally and falsely claiming American citizenship to participate in an election.

The DOJ said Hassan, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections.

“Nigerian national Mohammed Omar Hassan, 61, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Hassan allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections,” the statement said.

Agah, also a lawful permanent resident, was charged with voting as a non-citizen and making a false declaration of American citizenship to vote.

According to the department, he allegedly claimed to be a US citizen on an Authorization to Vote Form before casting his ballot in a federal election on November 5, 2024.

The arrests were announced as part of a broader crackdown by the DOJ on suspected election-related offences, including illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and false claims of citizenship.

Speaking on the development, US Attorney General Todd Blanche described the announcement as the largest increase in voter-fraud arrests since President Donald Trump returned to office.

The charges against the two Nigerians remain allegations and will be subject to judicial proceedings.