FBI’s most wanted Nigerian extradited from Ghana to face US charges
Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian national on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, has been extradited from Ghana to face charges in the United States, according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr of the District of Nebraska.
Kayode was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 at the request of U.S. law enforcement following a 2019 indictment in Omaha, Nebraska.
He is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded businesses of over $6 million between January 2015 and September 2016.
The indictment alleges that Kayode and his accomplices impersonated corporate executives through spoofed emails to trick employees into making unauthorized wire transfers.
The stolen funds were funnelled into Kayode’s controlled accounts, which were often linked to victims of romance scams.
Kayode appeared in court on December 11, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson, who ordered his detention pending trial.
This extradition is part of a broader crackdown on cybercrime networks by U.S. authorities.
Several of Kayode’s co-conspirators have already been sentenced:
Adewale Aniyeloye: 96 months in prison, over $1.5 million in restitution for sending fraudulent emails.
Pelumi Fawehinimi: 72 months for managing fraudulent bank accounts.
Onome Ijomone: 60 months for romance scams, following his extradition from Poland.
Alex Ogunshakin: 45 months after extradition from Nigeria.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge, Eugene Kowel, reiterated the agency’s determination to apprehend the remaining fugitives, declaring, “To the remaining four co-conspirators: we are coming for you.”
He also praised the Ghanaian authorities for their collaboration in Kayode’s extradition.
The FBI led the investigation with support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
It’s important to note that an indictment is only an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.