Taiwo Popoola
A Nigerian man identified as Abiola Kayode has been extradited from Ghana to the District of Nebraska, United States.
The development followed his indictment on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Sahara Reporters reports that the indictment, filed in August 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska, was pursued after a long investigation into fraudulent activities.
Kayode was arrested by law enforcement authorities in Ghana in April 2023, following a formal request from the United States for his extradition.
The Ghanaian government granted the extradition request, and the suspect was subsequently handed over to FBI special agents, who transported him to Nebraska.
Kayode made his first appearance in federal court on December 11, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson.
He is alleged to have participated in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme from January 2015 to September 2016, according to a statement released on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska.
The BEC scheme defrauded businesses in the District of Nebraska and elsewhere of more than $6 million.
“Using email accounts spoofed to make it appear as though they were from the company’s true business executive, Kayode’s co-conspirators directed business employees or recipients of the email to complete wire transfers,” part of the statement read.
Some of Kayode’s co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced.
