A 37-year-old Nigerian, Abiola Kayode, who had been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska, United States. This follows a conspiracy to commit wire fraud indictment filed against him in August 2019.
The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Kayode was arrested by Ghanaian authorities in April 2023. After a formal U.S. extradition request, he was handed over to FBI special agents, who transported him to Nebraska.
Kayode appeared in court on December 11, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson, who ordered his detention pending trial.
Kayode is accused of orchestrating a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme between January 2015 and September 2016, which defrauded businesses in Nebraska and other states of over $6 million. The scheme involved impersonating business executives to deceive employees into making fraudulent wire transfers.
“These emails, designed to appear legitimate, convinced businesses to transfer large sums of money to accounts controlled by Kayode and his associates,” the statement read.
Authorities allege Kayode provided bank account details used to funnel the stolen funds. Many of these accounts were linked to victims of internet romance scams who were manipulated into transferring the illicit money further.
Several of Kayode’s co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced:
Adewale Aniyeloye: Sentenced in February 2019 to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution.
Pelumi Fawehinimi: Sentenced in March 2019 to 72 months in prison with $1.01 million restitution.
Onome Ijomone: Extradited from Poland and sentenced in January 2020 to 60 months in prison with $508,934 restitution.
Alex Ogunshakin: Sentenced in October 2024 to 45 months in prison following extradition from Nigeria.
Speaking on the matter, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “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: 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.”
Kowel also praised Ghanaian authorities, stating, “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.”
Kayode now faces trial in Nebraska as the U.S. intensifies its efforts to combat cybercrime globally.
