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The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC) on Wednesday, August 26, facilitated the extradition of two Nigerians to the United States of America to face prosecution for alleged sextortion and child exploitation that led to the deaths of two American teenagers.
The suspects were identified as Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle.
In a Friday statement, the EFCC said the duo were identified in separate investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly those aged 13 to 17.
According to the commission, the schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to extort victims for money through money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The FBI linked their activities to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one case detailed by the EFCC, a 13-year-old male victim received a direct message on Instagram from a subject who requested an exchange of nude photographs.
The FBI said the subject later threatened to disseminate the minor’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money.
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Communications reportedly continued even after the minor indicated he intended to take his own life.
Following actionable intelligence from the FBI, the EFCC said it identified, investigated and arrested Adekunle.
For Olawale, the FBI sought extradition over a seven-count charge including “sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications, and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.”
The commission initiated extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024, before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa.
The court initially refused the application on June 10, 2024, but the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed.
On July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the Federal High Court judgment, paving the way for Olawale’s extradition.
The EFCC said the extradition underscores continued collaboration between the EFCC and FBI in tackling transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
