UK Metropolitan Police Confirm Identity of Extradited Nigerian Suspect as “Matthew Chukuemeka Adebiyi,” Clearing Controversy Over Name Discrepancy Amid Public Backlash

The United Kingdom (UK) Metropolitan Police have officially clarified the identity of the Nigerian man recently extradited to the country over serious criminal allegations, stating that their records identify him as “Matthew Chukuemeka Adebiyi.”

The confirmation was made in an email response sent to TheCable on Friday evening, where the UK authorities reaffirmed the inclusion and correct spelling of the suspect’s middle name. This statement aligns with earlier information released by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), effectively addressing the growing controversy that had trailed the case on social media.

“Hello, Our records show it as Matthew Chukuemeka ADEBIYI. Thanks,” UK Metropolitan police wrote in the mail to TheCable.

The clarification comes in the wake of widespread reactions on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, where several Nigerians accused the NPF of “ethnic bigotry” following the publication of the suspect’s name.

In its earlier statement, the NPF had identified the suspect as “Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi,” a detail that sparked heated debate among online commentators. Critics alleged that the inclusion of “Chukwuemeka” was a deliberate attempt to portray the suspect as originating from Nigeria’s south-east geopolitical zone, thereby raising concerns about ethnic profiling.

However, the latest confirmation from the UK Metropolitan Police appears to validate the Nigerian police’s original disclosure, reinforcing that the name was not fabricated or inserted with ulterior motives.

The Nigeria Police Force had initially announced on Thursday that Adebiyi had been extradited to the UK to face charges bordering on alleged murder and drug trafficking, marking a significant development in a long-running international investigation.

According to Anthony Placid, the force spokesperson, the suspect was apprehended on January 23, 2025, by operatives of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja. The arrest followed an official request by UK authorities, who had been seeking Adebiyi’s extradition since September 2024.

Placid explained that the extradition request was tied to Adebiyi’s “alleged involvement in the murder of one Joshua Boadu on 18th June 2018,” a case that has remained under investigation for several years.

Authorities further disclosed that Adebiyi allegedly fled to Nigeria shortly after the incident in a bid to evade arrest and prosecution in the UK.

The legal process surrounding his extradition culminated in November 2025, when a Federal High Court in Lagos granted the request for his transfer to the United Kingdom to stand trial over the allegations.

With the UK Metropolitan Police now confirming the suspect’s full identity as “Matthew Chukuemeka Adebiyi,” attention is expected to shift back to the judicial proceedings in the UK, as the case continues to unfold amid heightened public interest both in Nigeria and abroad.