EFCC Extradites Two Nigerians to US Over Alleged Sextortion Deaths of Teenagers
By Aboki Forex —
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extradited Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle to the United States to face prosecution over alleged child exploitation and financially motivated sextortion that reportedly led to the deaths of two American teenagers. The EFCC said its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the extradition on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following separate FBI investigations into sextortion schemes targeting male minors aged 13 to 17.
How the alleged scheme worked
According to the EFCC, the suspects allegedly used child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to threaten and extort victims for money through money remitters, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. In one case, a 13-year-old male victim received a direct message on Instagram from a subject who suggested an exchange of nude photographs.
The FBI’s investigation established that the subject later threatened to distribute the minor’s photographs to his Instagram contacts while demanding money. “It was further revealed that communications reportedly continued despite the minor indicating that he intended to take his own life,” the EFCC stated.
“The FBI subsequently developed actionable intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and requested the assistance of the EFCC in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators under applicable Nigerian laws,” the anti-graft agency added. Adekunle was arrested and brought before the EFCC after the investigation.
Olawale’s seven-count US charge
The FBI requested Olawale’s extradition over a seven-count indictment relating to alleged sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death. The charges also include 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 commenced extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024 before Justice A. Lewis Allagoa. The court rejected the extradition 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 judgment of the Federal High Court, thereby paving the way for Olawale’s extradition to the U.S.,” the EFCC stated.
Growing list of Nigerian extraditions
The case highlights increasing cooperation between Nigerian and US law enforcement on transnational financial crimes and internet-enabled offences. In May 2026, the Nigeria Police Force extradited suspected cyber fraudster Samuel Ugberease to the US over online romance scams and wire fraud. Ugberease, known as ‘Putsammy’, ‘Putput’ and ‘Sammy’, was based in South Africa before his arrest and was linked to a syndicate that used fake dating profiles to lure mostly American women.
In August 2025, Chukwuemeka Victor Amachukwu was extradited to the US from France over computer hacking, identity theft and wire fraud that allegedly defrauded US tax authorities and victims of millions of dollars. Earlier, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, was extradited from the UAE to the US over massive internet fraud. In April 2026, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi was extradited to the UK for murder and drug trafficking.
For Nigerian authorities, the extradition wave signals a firmer stance on cross-border cybercrime, even as it underscores the risks of internet-enabled fraud originating from the country.