Nigeria Police Extradites Fugitive to UK Over Murder, Drug Trafficking Charges
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, has successfully extradited a fugitive, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom to face charges of murder and drug trafficking.
The extradition followed a formal request by UK authorities in September 2024 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Joshua Boadu on June 18, 2018. He is also accused of supplying crack cocaine, a Class-A controlled substance, between October 2017 and March 2018 in the UK.
The suspect was arrested on January 23, 2025, by INTERPOL operatives in Abuja. Legal proceedings were subsequently initiated at the Federal High Court, Lagos, where Justice A.O. Faji granted the extradition request on February 16, 2026, in line with Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
Following the court’s approval and execution of a surrender warrant, Adebiyi was handed over to UK law enforcement officials on April 14, 2026, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to international cooperation, stressing that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for fugitives.
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