Nigerian Man Accused of Hacking U.S. University to Steal $235,000
A Nigerian man based in the United Kingdom, Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, has been arrested in connection with a cybercrime case involving a U.S. university. He was taken into custody by authorities in the U.K. on September 15, 2025, and now faces extradition to the United States to answer to a seven-count indictment.
According to the charges, the incident took place between March and April 2023. Adepoju allegedly gained unauthorized access to the computer system of a Pennsylvania construction company working on a university project. Investigators say he altered email settings, created a fake email account, and tricked the university into transferring about $235,000 into a fraudulent bank account. The stolen funds have not been recovered.
Prosecutors described the scheme as a sophisticated cyberattack designed to exploit trust and steal money. The case highlights how criminals operating from outside the United States can still be tracked and brought to justice through international cooperation.
Adepoju is facing six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charges and five years for the computer fraud charge.
