The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has extradited two Nigerians to the United States over alleged online s3xual exploitation and s3xtortion of two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC
spokesperson, said Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle were
extradited on Wednesday after investigations by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) allegedly linked them to separate s3xtortion schemes
targeting male minors in the United States.
Oyewale said the victims were subjected to threats involving
the distribution of nude photographs and were allegedly extorted for money
through channels including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
According to him, one of the cases involved a 13-year-old
boy who was contacted on Instagram and persuaded to exchange nude photographs.
Oyewale said the FBI investigation allegedly found that the
suspect subsequently threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his
Instagram contacts unless he paid money.
The EFCC spokesperson added that the communication
reportedly continued even after the boy indicated that he intended to take his
own life.
According to him, the FBI subsequently developed
intelligence on individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the
EFCC’s assistance in identifying and investigating the suspects under Nigerian
law.
Adekunle was arrested following the investigation and was
later extradited to the US.
The EFCC spokesperson added that Olawale’s case followed a
separate FBI investigation.
He said US authorities sought his extradition over a
seven-count charge, including alleged s3xual exploitation of a minor resulting
in death, enticement of a minor to engage in s3xual activity, interstate
threatening communications and distribution of child pornography.
The anti-graft agency subsequently commenced extradition
proceedings against Olawale at the federal high court in Lagos in a case marked
FHC/L/CS/353/2024.
Oyewale said Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, the presiding judge,
refused the extradition application on June 10, 2024.
However, the office of the attorney-general of the
federation appealed the decision.
On July 7, 2026, the court of appeal in Lagos, in appeal
number CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the federal high court judgement and paved
the way for Olawale’s extradition.
The EFCC spokesperson said the two men were extradited by
the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 as part of its collaboration with
the FBI on transnational crimes.
He said the cases also highlight EFCC’s cooperation with US
authorities in tackling internet-enabled crimes involving the s3xual
exploitation and s3xtortion of minors.
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