Nigerian National Charged by U.S. Grand Jury for Alleged Election Fraud, Citizenship Deception

A federal grand jury in Topeka, Kansas, has returned an indictment against George Olawunmi Johnson, a 67-year-old Nigerian national. Johnson faces charges for allegedly falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to illegally participate in elections. His arrest by Homeland Security Investigations occurred on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, a detail confirmed by the United States Department of Justice in a statement released the same day.

Court documents reveal that Johnson, who resides in Olathe, Kansas, is facing multiple counts. These include one count of making a false claim to United States citizenship, another count specifically for making a false claim to U.S. citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting in a federal election as an alien.

The charges stem from accusations that Johnson falsely indicated he was a U.S. citizen when he registered to vote in Johnson County, Kansas, in February 2010. Furthermore, it is alleged that in November 2024, Johnson cast a ballot in Kansas for various federal offices, including U.S. President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives. This was reportedly done after he falsely certified his eligibility to vote as a U.S. citizen, despite being a permanent resident.

Johnson appeared for his initial court proceeding on September 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the investigation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a statement regarding the incident, emphasizing, "American elections are for American citizens. @HSIKansasCity arrested George Olawunmi Johnson, of Nigeria, September 23 for crimes related to election fraud. He’s accused of violating federal law regarding voting by aliens and false claims of U.S. citizenship, both felony charges."