Nigerian Abiola Kayode was extradited from Ghana to Nebraska over his alleged roles in a $6 million business email compromise scheme. Arrested in April 2023, he was indicted for wire fraud and appeared in court on December 11, 2024, where he was ordered held pending trial.
Abiola Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, has been extradited from Ghana to Nebraska, USA, following his inclusion on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List. He faces charges for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with an indictment issued against him in August 2019. The United States Attorney’s Office announced his extradition after his arrest in April 2023 by Ghanaian law enforcement. Following a formal U.S. request, he was handed over to FBI agents for transport to Nebraska, where he was detained pending trial after appearing in court.
The case against Abiola Kayode arises from his alleged participation in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that targeted businesses in Nebraska and other states between January 2015 and September 2016. This scheme resulted in the fraudulent transfer of over $6 million from unsuspecting businesses, achieved through emails that impersonated business executives. These communications tricked employees into wiring substantial amounts of money to accounts controlled by Kayode and his associates, who are linked to various internet scams. Many of the bank accounts used in this scheme belonged to victims of romance scams, further complicating efforts to trace the illicit funds.
The extradition of Abiola Kayode represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts of U.S. authorities to combat cybercrime, particularly Business Email Compromise schemes. With multiple co-conspirators already prosecuted, the case underscores the collaborative efforts of international law enforcement agencies to address and dismantle organized cybercrime. The FBI remains committed to pursuing additional suspects involved in this fraudulent network, reinforcing their message against such criminal activities.
Original Source: punchng.com
