The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extradited two Nigerians, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion of two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the extradition of the suspects on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following separate investigations conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to a statement issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Friday, August 28, the suspects were allegedly involved in sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly boys aged between 13 and 17.
Oyewale said the schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to threaten and extort victims through various channels, including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
He said FBI investigations linked the alleged activities of the suspects to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one of the cases, Oyewale said a 13-year-old boy received a direct message on Instagram from a person who suggested an exchange of nude photographs.
The suspect allegedly threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.
According to Oyewale, communications reportedly continued even after the minor indicated that he intended to take his own life.
He said the FBI subsequently developed actionable intelligence identifying individuals allegedly connected to the scheme and sought the assistance of the EFCC in identifying and investigating the suspects and prosecuting them under applicable Nigerian laws.
Oyewale said Adekunle was subsequently arrested and brought before the Commission.
In the case involving Olawale, the EFCC spokesman said the FBI sought his extradition to the U.S. over a seven-count charge bordering on sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications and distribution of child pornography.
He said the EFCC consequently commenced 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.
Oyewale said although the Federal High Court refused the extradition application on June 10, 2024, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the decision.
He added that 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, clearing the way for Olawale’s extradition to the United States.
The EFCC spokesman said the extradition of Olawale and Adekunle demonstrated the continued collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in combating transnational financial crimes and internet-enabled offences, particularly those involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
