A United States-based Nigerian academic, Sunday Goshit, has instituted legal action against the administration of Donald Trump over the sudden cancellation of his citizenship oath-taking ceremony.
Goshit, who relocated from Nigeria to the US in 2000 with his wife, Regina, had reportedly fulfilled all requirements for naturalisation after successfully passing the citizenship examinations.
The couple were billed to take their oath of allegiance in January 2026, but the ceremony was called off weeks to the scheduled date, leaving their citizenship process unresolved.
Findings indicated that a presidential directive issued by Trump in December 2025 may have triggered the development, as it instructed immigration officials to continue processing applications without concluding them.
The directive, said to affect applicants from about 39 countries including Nigeria, has stalled thousands of citizenship and immigration cases indefinitely.
Reacting to the development, Goshit said the delay had disrupted his life and long-held aspirations, noting that it had affected his ability to travel and fully attain his goals in the US.
The academic, who serves as an adjunct assistant professor at University of Iowa, has also attracted support from members of his host community in Iowa.
Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, has raised concerns over the development, describing the situation as part of a wider trend affecting other immigrants.
Supporters on social media have also criticised the decision, describing it as unfair, while noting the financial and emotional burden associated with the naturalisation process.
The lawsuit comes amid renewed immigration restrictions under Trump, including a travel ban affecting Nigeria and several other countries, introduced on security grounds.
