Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, a 37-year-old Nigerian, has been extradited to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a $6 million business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, Susan Lehr, announced the extradition on Thursday, December 12, 2024. The charges, first filed in August 2019, allege Kayode’s involvement in cyber fraud that targeted businesses in Nebraska and beyond.
Kayode, who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted Cyber Criminal List, was arrested in Ghana in April 2023 following a U.S. government request. Ghanaian authorities approved his extradition and handed him over to FBI agents, who transported him to Nebraska.
According to Lehr, Kayode made his initial court appearance on December 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson, who ordered his detention pending trial.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
Prosecutors allege Kayode participated in a BEC scheme from January 2015 to September 2016. In this scheme, co-conspirators impersonated high-ranking executives of targeted companies by using spoofed email accounts. These emails directed employees to execute fraudulent wire transfers.
The indictment claims Kayode provided bank account information to the co-conspirators, enabling them to transfer stolen funds into accounts under his control. Many of these accounts belonged to victims of internet romance scams, who were deceived into further transferring the funds.
Several of Kayode’s co-conspirators have already been convicted and sentenced:
Adewale Aniyeloye, sentenced to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.57 million in restitution in February 2019.
Pelumi Fawehinimi, sentenced to 72 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.01 million in restitution in March 2019.
Onome Ijomone, extradited from Poland, sentenced to 60 months in prison, and ordered to pay $508,934.40 in restitution in January 2020.
Alex Ogunshakin, extradited from Nigeria, sentenced to 45 months in prison in October 2024.
Other co-conspirators remain at large.
FBI’s Commitment to Justice
Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office, reaffirmed the agency’s determination to dismantle cybercriminal networks.
“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,” Kowel stated.
He praised the collaboration with Ghanaian authorities, including the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice, the Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, and the Ghana Immigration Service.
“Dismantling cyber-criminal groups that victimize U.S. citizens is a priority for the FBI, DOJ, and our international law enforcement partners,” he added.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts of U.S. law enforcement to bring cybercriminals to justice, irrespective of their location.
