37-year-old Nigerian man extradited to the U.S. over $6m cyber fraud

A 37-year-old Nigerian man, Abiola Kayode, has been extradited to the District of Nebraska in the United States on a Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud indictment filed in 2019.

Kayode, who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 and ultimately released to FBI special agents who took him to the US.

He had an initial appearance on the Indictment on December 11, 2024 and US Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered he remain detained pending trial.

Accused of being part of a $6 million business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2015 and 2016, Kayode allegedly helped defraud businesses by providing bank accounts used in the scam.

The scheme involved co-conspirators impersonating company executives via spoofed emails, tricking employees into wiring funds. Victims of romance scams were also reportedly used to launder money through their accounts.

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

Speaking in a statement, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said: “Four years ago, we identified six Nigerian nationals suspected of defrauding ding 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; 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, working together with our partners in Ghana, particularly the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, and the Ghana Immigration Service, will continue to pursue and bring to justice criminals who engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes.”