Nigerian Man Extradited to the U.S. Over $6 Million Cyber Fraud

A 37-year-old Nigerian man, Abiola Kayode, has been extradited to the District of Nebraska in the United States following an indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud filed in 2019. Kayode, who appeared on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 and subsequently handed over to FBI agents.

Kayode made his initial appearance in court on December 11, 2024, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered that he remain detained pending trial.

He is accused of participating in a $6 million business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2015 and 2016, allegedly aiding in the fraud by providing bank accounts used in the operation. The scheme involved co-conspirators impersonating company executives through spoofed emails, deceiving employees into wiring funds. Victims of romance scams were also reportedly exploited to launder money through their accounts.

Several co-conspirators have already been convicted, receiving sentences ranging from 45 to 96 months in prison, while others are still at large.

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel stated: “Four years ago, we identified six Nigerian nationals suspected of defrauding individual victims and businesses in Nebraska and other states of millions of dollars. Today, Abiola Kayode is the second of those co-conspirators to be extradited to stand trial in Nebraska. Our message to the remaining four co-conspirators is clear: we are coming for you. Dismantling cyber-criminal groups that victimize U.S. citizens is a priority for the FBI, DOJ, and our international law enforcement partners.”

The FBI, in collaboration with various Ghanaian authorities, will continue its efforts to track down and prosecute individuals involved in business email compromise and other fraudulent schemes.