US charges Nigerian-born woman for voting without citizenship

A 56-year-old Nigerian woman, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, residing in Lynn, Massachusetts, has been arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 US midterm elections despite not being a citizen.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, according to Punch, noting she also allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential primary.

Okafor, born in Aba, Nigeria, obtained lawful permanent resident status in December 2022 but had not applied for citizenship. Authorities said she falsely certified US citizenship on voter registration forms in 2022 and 2023, then went on to vote in both elections.

The charge of unlawful voting as an alien carries up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine. She may also face deportation. The office stressed the allegations remain unproven in court.