The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja, has extradited 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, seeking the arrest and transfer of Adebiyi over his alleged involvement in the murder of Joshua Boadu on June 18, 2018. After the incident, he reportedly fled to Nigeria to evade arrest. He is also accused of supplying crack cocaine, a Class-A controlled substance, in the UK between October 2017 and March 2018.
Operatives of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja arrested the suspect on January 23, 2025, prompting the commencement of extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025. On February 16, 2026, Justice A.O. Faji approved the extradition application in line with Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
Following the court’s ruling and the execution of a surrender warrant, the fugitive was handed over to UK law enforcement officials on April 14, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for prosecution.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the NPF’s commitment to international collaboration, stressing that Nigeria will not be a refuge for criminal fugitives.
