US Moves to Extradite Nigerian Over $235,000 Cyber Fraud Case

A Nigerian citizen, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested in the United Kingdom at the request of the United States over allegations of wire and computer fraud totaling more than $235,000.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Adepoju was taken into custody by U.K. authorities on September 15, 2025, and now awaits extradition to the United States to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Investigators allege that Adepoju used sophisticated cyber techniques to defraud a university in Pennsylvania of $235,266.80 between March and April 2023.

Details of the Alleged Offense

Court documents indicate that Adepoju gained unauthorized access to the email system of a construction company contracted by the university. He is accused of altering account rules, registering a spoofed domain, and impersonating an employee through email. By doing so, he allegedly convinced university staff to redirect payments into his fraudulent bank account. The funds have yet to be recovered.

“Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti. “His arrest in the United Kingdom underscores our commitment to aggressively locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide.”

Ongoing Threat of Business Email Compromise

The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, which spearheaded the investigation, stressed that email compromise schemes remain one of the most damaging forms of cybercrime globally.

“We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be,” warned FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek.

Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, and one count of computer fraud, which carries up to five years. If convicted, his final sentence would be determined by federal guidelines and his prior criminal record.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Gurzo, with support from the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs.

Related Case

In a separate case in August, another Nigerian national, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu, was extradited from France to the United States to face charges of computer hacking, identity theft, and wire fraud. U.S. prosecutors allege that his schemes defrauded tax authorities and private victims of millions of dollars.

Amachukwu, also known by the aliases “Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo” and “So Kwan Leung,” made his first court appearance before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger upon arrival in the U.S. His case has since been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.