Nigerian woman faces US charge over illegal voting

A 56-year-old Nigerian woman living in Massachusetts, United States, has been arrested and charged with allegedly voting in US elections despite not being an American citizen.

The woman, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, was arrested on Wednesday and accused of voting in the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential primary.

The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said Okafor, a Nigerian citizen born in Aba, allegedly registered to vote in Lynn in July 2022 and signed a declaration stating that she was a US citizen.

According to charging documents, she subsequently voted in the 2022 midterm election.

Prosecutors alleged that Okafor registered again in October 2023, once more declaring herself a US citizen, and later voted in the 2024 presidential primary.

Authorities said Okafor obtained lawful permanent resident status in December 2022 but had not become a US citizen or applied for citizenship.

She was charged with unlawfully voting as an alien and was expected to appear before a federal court in Boston on Wednesday.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Authorities said she could also face deportation after serving any sentence imposed.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit.

The US Attorney’s Office, however, stressed that the allegations have not been proven in court and that Okafor is presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.