EFCC extradites two Nigerians to US over alleged sextortion of teenage boys
By Chris Steven
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has facilitated the extradition of two Nigerians to the United States to face prosecution over alleged child exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday that Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle were extradited on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal directorate 2 of the commission.
According to Oyewale, the two men were identified in separate investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly boys aged between 13 and 17.
He said the investigations allegedly linked the suspects to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
The EFCC spokesperson said the schemes involved the use of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to extort victims for money through various channels, including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
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.
He added that the FBI investigation allegedly found that the individual later threatened to share the boy’s photographs with his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.
He said communications reportedly continued even after the minor indicated that he intended to take his own life.
The FBI subsequently developed intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the EFCC’s assistance in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators under applicable Nigerian laws.
Following its investigation, Oyewale said the EFCC arrested Adekunle and brought him before the commission.
In a separate case, he said the FBI sought Olawale’s extradition over a seven-count charge, including alleged 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 EFCC subsequently commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court in Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024, before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, following the FBI’s request.
The judge rejected the extradition application on June 10, 2024. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation subsequently appealed the decision.
On July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment, clearing the way for Olawale’s extradition to the US.
The EFCC said the extradition of Olawale and Adekunle underscores its continued collaboration with the FBI in tackling transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled offences involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.