By Ayo Kehinde
A Nigerian national based in the United Kingdom, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested in connection with an alleged $235,000 cyber fraud targeting a university in the United States.
The arrest, carried out by British authorities on September 15, 2025, follows a formal extradition request by the U.S. government.
Adepoju is currently awaiting transfer to the Western District of Pennsylvania, where he is expected to face trial.
According to an unsealed indictment, Adepoju allegedly orchestrated a cyber attack between March and April 2023 by hacking into the computer systems of a Western Pennsylvania construction company contracted by a university.
Prosecutors allege he manipulated internal email rules, created a fraudulent email address, and tricked university officials into wiring $235,266.80 to a fake bank account.
The stolen funds have yet to be recovered.
Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti said Adepoju employed “sophisticated cyber techniques” to illegally access business accounts and siphon funds.
“Even from halfway around the world, he was not beyond the investigative reach of the FBI,” Rivetti stated.
Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and five years for the computer fraud charge.
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, Kevin Rojek, warned that cybercriminals operating across borders would not evade justice.
“The FBI and our partners will pursue you wherever you are,” he said
