The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB), has extradited fugitive Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi to the United Kingdom over the alleged murder of a man, Joshua Boadu, on June, 18 2018.
Police spokesperson, Anthony Placid, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspect, who, after the murder, fled into Nigeria, was also wanted over his involvement in the supply of cocaine in the UK.
Mr Placid said the police, through the INTERPOL NCB Abuja, successfully facilitated Mr Adebiyi’s extradition to face charges bordering on murder and drug trafficking.
He said, “The extradition followed a formal request by UK authorities in September 2024 to locate, arrest, and extradite the fugitive over his alleged involvement in the murder of Joshua Boadu on 18th June 2018, after which he fled to Nigeria to evade arrest.
“He was also alleged to have been involved in the supply of crack cocaine, a class-A controlled drug, between October 2017 and March 2018 in the UK
“The suspect was arrested on 23rd January 2025 by operatives of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja, following which extradition proceedings were initiated at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025. On 16th February 2026, Honourable Justice A.O. Faji granted the application for his extradition in accordance with the Extradition Act, Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Following Justice Faji’s granting of the request and the execution of a surrender warrant, the fugitive was formally handed over to UK law enforcement officials on Tuesday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for extradition and prosecution.
