Nigerian citizen extradited to U.S. over $6 million cyber fraud scheme
Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian man and former member of the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminals List, has been extradited to the District of Nebraska, United States, to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The charges stem from a $6 million business email compromise (BEC) scheme that operated between 2015 and 2016.
Kayode was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 and subsequently handed over to FBI agents for extradition. His initial court appearance was held on December 11, 2024, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered his detention pending trial.
Prosecutors allege that Kayode played a pivotal role in the BEC scheme, which involved impersonating company executives through spoofed emails to deceive employees into wiring large sums of money.
Additionally, victims of romance scams were reportedly exploited to launder the proceeds through their personal accounts.
The indictment forms part of a larger investigation targeting six Nigerian nationals accused of orchestrating the fraudulent activities. While some co-conspirators have already been convicted, receiving sentences ranging from 45 to 96 months in prison, others remain at large.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating cybercrime, stating, “Abiola Kayode is the second of these co-conspirators to be extradited to Nebraska. To the remaining four: we are coming for you. Dismantling cybercriminal groups that prey on U.S. citizens is a top priority for the FBI and our international partners.”
The FBI acknowledged the collaboration with Ghanaian authorities, including the Office of the Attorney General, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, and the Ghana Immigration Service, in securing Kayode’s extradition.
