The police said the extradition, which took place on Friday, May 23, 2025, marks a milestone in the fight against international financial crimes.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has announced the extradition of a Nigerian fugitive, Abubakar Aboki Muhammed, from the United Arab Emirates. 

The police said the extradition, which took place on Friday, May 23, 2025, marks a milestone in the fight against international financial crimes.

According to a press release issued by the Force Public Relations Department with reference number CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/439, Muhammed was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice initiated by NCB Abuja following an elaborate investigation into charges of obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, and money laundering.

The case traces back to July 2023, when an international businessman based in Abuja filed a formal complaint alleging that Muhammed defrauded him under the guise of acting as a shipping agent. 

The suspect, according to police reports, presented himself as a reliable middleman capable of facilitating payments and overseeing the logistics for the shipment of ten high-end luxury vehicles from the UAE to Nigeria through registered shipping companies.

Investigations revealed that after establishing a deceptive rapport with the complainant, Muhammed fraudulently received a total sum of $307,500 as payment for the purported shipping contract. 

Rather than process the shipment as promised, he redirected the funds through a third-party account at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), registered in the name of Anas Usaini, a resident of Kano State. 

The account, as further revealed during forensic financial tracing, was allegedly used as a conduit for money laundering operations in Dubai.

Adding another layer to the fraudulent scheme, Muhammed reportedly issued a forged bill of lading to the complainant as proof of shipment. 

Shortly after the money was transferred, he became unreachable, prompting the aggrieved businessman to escalate the matter to law enforcement authorities.

Following months of collaborative international policing efforts and surveillance, Muhammed was apprehended by Dubai Police authorities on April 15, 2025. The arrest was facilitated through close coordination between the INTERPOL NCBs in Abuja and Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Police, and the Nigerian Consulate General in Dubai. 

The suspect was subsequently extradited to Nigeria on May 23 and is expected to face prosecution at the Federal High Court, where charges will be formally presented.

In its press statement, the NPF underscored the extradition as a “significant success” in ongoing efforts to dismantle organised financial crime networks that exploit international borders to evade justice. The force further emphasised its commitment to working with global partners to ensure the apprehension and prosecution of Nigerian fugitives implicated in cross-border criminal activities.

Speaking on the extradition, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the unwavering professionalism of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja, as well as the cooperative spirit of international counterparts.

The suspect is currently in custody and will be arraigned in court in the coming days.