NPF extradites man wanted for UK murder, crack cocaine trafficking

A Nigerian man who allegedly fled to Nigeria after killing a man in the United Kingdom in 2018 has been extradited to face justice, as the Nigeria Police Force demonstrated its growing resolve to deny fugitives safe harbour on home soil.

Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi was handed over to United Kingdom law enforcement officials on April 14, 2026, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, following a lengthy extradition process that spanned more than a year.

According to the Nigeria Police Force, UK authorities formally requested Adebiyi’s extradition in September 2024, seeking to prosecute him for the murder of Joshua Boadu on June 18, 2018, and for his alleged involvement in the supply of crack cocaine — a Class A controlled substance — between October 2017 and March 2018.

Operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja arrested Adebiyi on January 23, 2025, after which extradition proceedings were initiated before the Federal High Court in Lagos. On February 16, 2026, Justice A.O. Faji granted the extradition application under the Extradition Act, Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. A surrender warrant was subsequently executed by the relevant Nigerian authorities before the handover was carried out.

Inspector General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu used the occasion to reaffirm the Force’s commitment to international law enforcement cooperation, warning that Nigeria would not serve as a refuge for those fleeing criminal prosecution abroad.

The extradition is among the clearest signals yet that Nigerian law enforcement agencies are tightening collaboration with foreign counterparts through INTERPOL — a development that analysts say carries significant implications for fugitives who have historically exploited Nigeria’s size and limited extradition record to evade justice.

Adebiyi will now face prosecution by UK authorities for both the murder charge and the drug trafficking allegations.