FREETOWN, 15th October 2026 – The United States Department of Justice is seeking to revoke the American citizenship of a 58-year-old man originally from Sierra Leone over alleged immigration fraud dating back nearly two decades.
The man was identified in court filings as Ifeolu Samuel Akingbemisilu, who has also used the names John Samuel, Sylvester Akingbemisilu and Anthony Davies.
According to a civil complaint filed on 18th September 2026 in the Northern District of Georgia, Akingbemisilu became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2008 after allegedly concealing critical facts about his immigration history.
Prosecutors allege that he first entered the U.S. under the name Anthony Davies and was ordered removed from the country. He later re-entered using a fraudulent British passport bearing the name John Samuel.
The complaint further states that he married a U.S. citizen, obtained lawful permanent residency through that marriage, and subsequently changed his name to Ifeolu Samuel Akingbemisilu during naturalization proceedings.
U.S. authorities contend that he willfully misrepresented material facts and provided false information to obtain citizenship illegally.
The case against him is part of a wider crackdown. Between late August and early October 2026, the Justice Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services filed denaturalization complaints against 40 individuals from different countries, including Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
Officials said the 40 cases involve allegations ranging from immigration fraud and hidden criminal records to serious offences including voluntary manslaughter, sexual offences and acting as a foreign agent.
Attorney General Todd Blanche described it as the largest denaturalization effort in modern history, saying the defendants “concealed critical facts from the U.S. government.”
The case remains a civil proceeding. No final determination has been made, and the allegations in the complaint are yet to be proven in court. The matter is before Judge Mark H. Cohen, with court records showing summons activity continuing into early October.
Under U.S. law, naturalized citizenship can be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through concealment or willful misrepresentation. If successful, denaturalization could return Akingbemisilu to his prior immigration status and potentially expose him to renewed removal proceedings.
