The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has successfully extradited a wanted fugitive, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom to face charges of murder and drug trafficking.
According to the Force, the extradition followed a formal request from UK authorities in September 2024, seeking Adebiyi’s arrest and surrender over his alleged involvement in the 2018 murder of Joshua Boadu. He was also accused of participating in the distribution of crack cocaine between October 2017 and March 2018 before fleeing to Nigeria to evade prosecution.
Operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested the suspect on January 23, 2025, after which extradition proceedings commenced at the Federal High Court in Lagos under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025. On February 16, 2026, Justice A.O. Faji granted the extradition order in line with Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
Following the court ruling and the execution of a surrender warrant, Adebiyi was officially handed over to UK law enforcement officials on April 14, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to international security cooperation and pledged that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for fugitives.