The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has successfully extradited a Nigerian national, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom to face trial for alleged murder and the trafficking of Class-A controlled substances.
The formal handover took place on Tuesday, 14th April 2026, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, where Adebiyi was placed in the custody of British law enforcement officials.
The extradition follows a protracted investigation into the death of Joshua Boadu, who was murdered on 18th June 2018. According to the Force Spokesperson, Anthony Placid, United Kingdom authorities allege that Adebiyi fled to Nigeria shortly after the incident to evade arrest and subsequent prosecution.
In addition to the murder charge, the suspect is alleged to have been involved in the supply of crack cocaine between October 2017 and March 2018 within the United Kingdom.
The fugitive’s run ended on 23rd January 2025, when he was apprehended by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.
Following his arrest, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) initiated extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025. In February 2026, Honourable Justice A.O. Faji ruled that the statutory conditions required under Nigeria’s Extradition Act had been satisfied, thereby granting the application for his surrender.
“The suspect was arrested following a formal request by United Kingdom authorities in September 2024 to locate, arrest, and extradite the fugitive,” the police statement read. “The court held that the office of the AGF satisfied all statutory conditions required under Nigeria’s Extradition Act, Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The successful execution of the surrender warrant underscores the ongoing judicial and security cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to international law enforcement partnerships, noting that the extradition ensures the suspect will face “diligent prosecution” for the severe offences committed on British soil.
Adebiyi is expected to be arraigned in a UK court upon his arrival, bringing a close to an international manhunt that spanned nearly eight years.
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