The Nigeria Police Force has extradited a fugitive, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom over allegations of murder and drug trafficking.
Disclosing the development on Thursday, the Force spokesman, Anthony Placid, described it as one which underscores Nigeria’s commitment to international law enforcement cooperation.
According to him, the Force, through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja, acted on a formal request by UK authorities made in September 2024 to locate, arrest, and extradite the suspect for his alleged involvement in the murder of Joshua Boadu on June 18, 2018.
He is also accused of participating in the supply of crack cocaine, a Class-A controlled drug, between October 2017 and March 2018 in the United Kingdom, before fleeing to Nigeria.
Adebiyi was arrested on January 23, 2025, by INTERPOL operatives in Abuja, after which extradition proceedings commenced at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025.
On February 16, 2026, Justice A.O. Faji granted the application for his extradition in line with the provisions of the Extradition Act.
Following the court’s ruling and the issuance of a surrender warrant by the appropriate Nigerian authorities, the suspect was formally handed over to UK law enforcement officials on April 14, 2026, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s resolve to deepen international collaboration and ensure that Nigeria does not serve as a safe haven for fugitives.
