Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian and one of the FBI’s most wanted cyber criminals, has been extradited from Ghana to the United States to face charges related to a $6 million business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska confirmed that Ghanaian authorities arrested Kayode in April 2023. Following a formal extradition request, he was transferred to FBI agents and brought to Nebraska, where he appeared in court on December 11, 2024. US Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered Kayode’s detention pending trial.
Kayode is accused of participating in a BEC scheme that operated from January 2015 to September 2016. The scheme involved impersonating business executives to deceive employees into wiring large sums of money to fraudulent accounts controlled by Kayode and his associates. Authorities state the scheme defrauded businesses in Nebraska and other U.S. states of over $6 million.
According to investigators, Kayode provided banking information to facilitate the movement of stolen funds, which were often funneled through accounts belonging to victims of internet romance scams. These victims were manipulated into further transferring the money to other destinations.
Kayode’s extradition is part of a wider effort to combat cybercrime, with several of his co-conspirators already convicted.
Adewale Aniyeloye was sentenced to 96 months in February 2019 and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution.
Pelumi Fawehinimi was sentenced to 72 months in March 2019, with $1.01 million in restitution.
Onome Ijomone was extradited from Poland and sentenced to 60 months in January 2020, with $508,934 in restitution.
Alex Ogunshakin was extradited from Nigeria and sentenced to 45 months in October 2024.
Speaking in a statement, 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.
“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.”
