Nigerians Helen Adams, Joshua Akpom face jail term for Illegal voting in U.S.

U.S. authorities charged two Nigerians, Helen Sayen Adams and Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, and 14 other foreign nationals for illegal voting and related election fraud.

Ahmed Oluwasanjo • September 19, 2026

U.S. polling unit[Credit: Center for American Progress]

U.S. authorities on Saturday announced that two Nigerians, Helen Sayen Adams and Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, have been charged alongside 14 other foreign nationals for illegal voting and related election crimes.

The U.S. Department of Justice, in a statement on Saturday, announced that Ms Adams and Mr Akpom were charged alongside others for illegal voting, illegal voter registration, and related election-fraud schemes across the country.

“Nigerian national, Helen Sayen Adams, 67, a lawful permanent resident since May 2024, was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to register to vote,” the DoJ said.

“Nigerian national, Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, 27, a lawful permanent resident since 2016, has been charged with false statements in relation to naturalisation,” it added.

Earlier in the week, another Nigerian, Gladys Okafor, 56, a lawful permanent resident, was arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 elections and allegedly voting in the 2024 general elections.

Ms Okafor also allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential primary election, though not a U.S. citizen. Illegal voting by a non-U.S. citizen carries a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Ms Okafor may also be subject to deportation after completing any sentence imposed.

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