Man Arrested in UK for Allegedly Stealing $235,000 from US University

A Nigerian man living in the United Kingdom, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been apprehended by British authorities following a request from the United States, after being charged with wire fraud and computer fraud.

US prosecutors allege that Adepoju hacked into the email system of a Pennsylvania-based construction company working for a university.

He reportedly created fake accounts impersonating company staff and manipulated payment instructions, resulting in approximately $235,266 (₦363 million) being diverted to accounts under his control. The stolen funds are yet to be recovered.

The US Department of Justice confirmed that Adepoju, arrested on September 15, 2025, is awaiting extradition to the United States to face a seven-count indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The alleged cybercrime took place between March and April 2023.

“Adepoju allegedly used sophisticated cyber techniques to target a university from abroad. Even from thousands of miles away, he could not escape the investigative reach of the FBI,” said Acting US Attorney Troy Rivetti.

Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, warned: “Email compromise schemes are serious crimes that threaten universities, businesses, and organizations. Criminals thinking they can exploit systems remotely will be pursued and brought to justice.”

Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, and one count of computer fraud, with a maximum sentence of five years. The prosecution is being led by Assistant US Attorney Mark V. Gurzo, with support from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

Authorities emphasize that an indictment is merely an allegation, and Adepoju is presumed innocent until proven guilty.