Two Nigerian men, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, have been extradited to the United States to face prosecution over alleged sextortion and sexual exploitation of two American teenage boys who reportedly died by suicide.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, coordinated the extradition of the duo to the United States on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following separate investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI).
The FBI identified Olawale and Adekunle in investigations into sextortion schemes allegedly targeting male minors, particularly boys between the ages of 13 and 17.
According to the EFCC, the alleged schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to extort victims for money through channels including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The investigations linked the alleged activities to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after reportedly experiencing online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one case, a 13 year-old boy reportedly received a direct message on Instagram from an individual who proposed an exchange of nude photographs. The individual allegedly later threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.
The FBI stated that the communications reportedly continued even after the teenager indicated that he intended to take his own life.
Subsequently, the investigation triggered actionable intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme, prompting the FBI to seek the EFCC’s assistance in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the suspects under applicable Nigerian laws.
Adekunle was subsequently arrested and brought before the EFCC.
Olawale, meanwhile, was arrested in Nigeria on August 9, 2023, as part of a wider FBI operation targeting individuals allegedly involved in sextortion schemes against minors in the United States.
The Extradition ProceedingsÂ
The EFCC commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024.
Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa initially refused 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 judgment, paving the way for Olawale’s extradition.
Olawale appeared before a federal court in Greensboro, North Carolina, on August 28, 2026.
He was charged in a seven count indictment filed in August 2023. The charges include 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
Reacting to the extradition, Reid Davis, FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, highlighted that financially motivated sextortion causes lasting emotional and psychological harm to victims and their families.
Davis said the extradition demonstrated the FBI’s commitment to pursuing individuals accused of exploiting vulnerable victims, regardless of where they operate.
The EFCC explained that the development underscores its continued cooperation with the FBI in combating transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
