The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a reward of up to $10,000 (₦14 million) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nigerian national Olumide Adebiyi Adediran, who has been a fugitive for more than two decades.
Adediran fled the Central District of Illinois in late December 2001, just days before his federal trial was scheduled to begin. He was facing multiple charges, including bank fraud, identification document fraud, and credit card fraud.
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the FBI stated: “The FBI offers a reward of up to $10,000 for info leading to the arrest and conviction of Olumide Adebiyi Adediran, wanted for Violation of Conditions of Release. Adediran fled the Central District of Illinois at the end of December of 2001, shortly before his trial was set to begin on federal charges of Bank Fraud, Identification Document Fraud, and Credit Card Fraud.”
According to information on the Bureau’s website, Adediran’s alleged crimes date back to August 2001, when he entered a bank in Champaign, Illinois, and attempted to withdraw funds using a fraudulent check. Investigators say he also used stolen personal information of U.S. citizens to open both bank and credit card accounts.
His decision to abscond ahead of trial constituted a violation of his release conditions, making him a fugitive. On January 2, 2002, a federal arrest warrant was issued against him by the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, Urbana.
The FBI is urging anyone with information on Adediran’s whereabouts to come forward, stressing that the cash reward remains active until his arrest and conviction.
