The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has handed over two Nigerians, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to United States authorities over their alleged involvement in the sextortion and sexual exploitation of two teenage boys.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated their extradition to the U.S. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into sextortion schemes targeting male minors aged between 13 and 17.
The alleged schemes involved the use of child sexual abuse material to extort victims through money transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The FBI linked the two suspects to separate cases involving American teenagers who died by suicide after allegedly being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one case, a 13-year-old boy reportedly received a direct message on Instagram from a person who suggested an exchange of nude photographs.
The suspect allegedly later threatened to share the boy’s photographs with his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.
The EFCC said the communication continued even after the boy indicated that he intended to take his own life.
Following a request from the FBI, the EFCC investigated the case, leading to Adekunle’s arrest and subsequent proceedings.
Olawale, meanwhile, was wanted in the U.S. over a seven-count charge, including 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.
The EFCC commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024, following the FBI’s request.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, 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 in Lagos, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, overturned the Federal High Court’s judgment, paving the way for Olawale’s extradition.
The EFCC said the extradition underscores its continued collaboration with the FBI in tackling transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
