UK Police Confirm Identity of Extradited Nigerian Murder Suspect Matthew Chukuemeka Adebiyi

The Metropolitan Police have identified a Nigerian man recently extradited to the United Kingdom over murder allegations as “Matthew Chukuemeka Adebiyi.”

In an email sent to TheCable on Friday evening, the UK police confirmed the suspect’s name as “Chukuemeka,” backing an earlier statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

“Hello, Our records show it as Matthew Chukuemeka ADEBIYI. Thanks,” the Metropolitan Police wrote.

The confirmation followed backlash on X (formerly Twitter), where many Nigerians accused the NPF of “ethnic bigotry” after it included “Chukuemeka” in the suspect’s name in an earlier statement.

The NPF had identified the suspect as “Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi,” prompting critics to allege that the inclusion of the name was intended to suggest the suspect’s origin from Nigeria’s south-east region.

On Thursday, the NPF announced that authorities had extradited Adebiyi to the UK to face charges related to alleged murder and drug trafficking.

Force spokesperson Anthony Placid said INTERPOL operatives from the National Central Bureau in Abuja arrested Adebiyi on January 23, 2025.

Placid said UK authorities requested the suspect’s extradition in September 2024 over his “alleged involvement in the murder of one Joshua Boadu on 18th June 2018.” Report from the Metropolitan Police named him without his middle name as Matthew Adebiyi, which make his ethnicity Yoruba. Chukwuemeka added makes him related to Igbo ethnic group who have been stereotyped to be criminals.

He added that Adebiyi fled to Nigeria after the alleged crime to evade arrest.

In November 2025, a federal high court in Lagos ordered his extradition to the UK to stand trial over the allegations.