{"id":15562,"date":"2026-02-05T18:40:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nigeriastandardnewspaper.com\/a\/?p=15562"},"modified":"2026-02-05T18:40:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:40:49","slug":"nigerian-man-with-a-ladys-name-mercy-ojedeji-in-jail-for-more-than-3years-over-lying-to-get-student-visa-at-university-of-missouri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nigeriastandardnewspaper.com\/a\/nigerian-man-with-a-ladys-name-mercy-ojedeji-in-jail-for-more-than-3years-over-lying-to-get-student-visa-at-university-of-missouri\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigerian man with a lady\u2019s name, \u2018MERCY\u2019 OJEDEJI in jail for more than 3years over lying to get Student Visa at University of Missouri"},"content":{"rendered":"

*26-year-old pleads guilty to one count of unlawful fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*Admitted to using counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendations, a resume, and a report about English language proficiency to get a student visa<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*Used fake papers to acquire admission into chemistry PhD program, got $49,000 in stipends and a tuition waiver<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*Opened bank account with an invalid visa to get a driver\u2019s license<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*BY TINUADE ADEBAYO\/American Foreign Correspondent, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

END of the road has come full circle for a 26-year-old Nigerian, Mercy Ojedeji who used forged documentation to obtain immigration benefits which resulted in a United Student\u2019s F1 visa at the University of Missouri. She is to face deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, after her jail term of 3years and 6 months.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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This Nigerian man bearing a lady\u2019s name was sentenced to prison for lying to get a student visa to attend the University of Missouri.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Mercy pleads guilty in April to one count of unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced him to 41 months in prison.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ojedeji admitted to using counterfeit academic transcripts, recommendations, a resume, and a report about his English language proficiency to get a student visa from MU.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He also used them to get admission to the chemistry PhD program in the fall of 2023.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ojedeji also got $49,000 in stipends and a tuition waiver.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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After failing to attend class, Ojedeji was kicked out of the graduate program in January 2024 and lost his student visa.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In February 2024, Ojedeji used his now-invalid visa to get a driver\u2019s license, which he used to open a bank account.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ojedeji was also accused of using the bank account as part of a money mule scam with his girlfriend.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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