The Nigeria Police Force, acting through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has handed over Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi to United Kingdom authorities to face prosecution for murder and drug trafficking.
According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the extradition followed a formal request from the UK in September 2024 to locate, arrest, and transfer the fugitive. Adebiyi is accused of killing Joshua Boadu on 18th June 2018 before fleeing to Nigeria. He also allegedly supplied crack cocaine, a Class-A controlled drug, in the UK between October 2017 and March 2018.
INTERPOL NCB Abuja operatives arrested the suspect on 23rd January 2025, prompting extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025). On 16th February 2026, Justice A.O. Faji granted the extradition application under the Extradition Act, Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the court order and issuance of a surrender warrant by Nigerian authorities, the fugitive was formally transferred to UK law enforcement officials on 14th April 2026 at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for diligent prosecution.
Inspector General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, reaffirmed the Force’s dedication to strengthening international police cooperation and ensuring Nigeria does not become a refuge for fugitives.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
