A Nigerian man living in the UK, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested by British authorities at the request of the United States government after being indicted on multiple charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
According to US prosecutors, Adepoju allegedly hacked into the email system of a Pennsylvania construction company contracted by a university and diverted payments worth $235,266 into a fraudulent account he controlled.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ), in a statement on Thursday, confirmed Adepoju’s arrest on September 15, 2025, noting that he is awaiting extradition to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
How the fraud was carried out
Court documents allege that between March and April 2023, Adepoju:
- Gained remote access to a protected computer belonging to the construction firm.
- Altered email rules and created a spoofed domain.
- Sent fake payment instructions to the university.
Believing the instructions were genuine, the university updated the contractor’s banking details and wired over $235,000 to Adepoju’s account. The funds have not been recovered.
Officials react
Acting US Attorney Troy Rivetti said the arrest highlights the reach of international cybercrime investigations:
“Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts. His arrest in the UK underscores our district’s unwavering commitment to locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide.”
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek warned that no cybercriminal is beyond the bureau’s reach:
“Criminals who think they can reach across the globe into the US need to know one thing: the FBI and our partners will find you and bring you to justice.”
Charges and penalties
Adepoju faces:
- Six counts of wire fraud – each carrying up to 20 years in prison.
- One count of computer fraud – punishable by up to five years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Mark V. Gurzo with support from the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs.
Authorities emphasised that the indictment is only an accusation and Adepoju is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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