EFCC Hands Over Two Nigerians to US Over Alleged Sextortion of Teenage Boys
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the extradition of two Nigerian men to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two American teenage boys who later died by suicide.
The suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, were extradited on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
According to the commission, the two men were identified during separate investigations by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into alleged sextortion networks targeting male minors, particularly boys between the ages of 13 and 17.
The EFCC said the schemes allegedly involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to threaten and extort victims through financial channels, including money remittance services, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The commission disclosed that the FBI investigations connected the suspects to two separate cases involving American minors who reportedly took their own lives after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one case, a 13-year-old boy allegedly received an Instagram message from an individual proposing an exchange of nude photographs.
The FBI investigation reportedly found that the individual later threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts unless he paid money.
The EFCC said the communication allegedly continued even after the teenager indicated that he planned to take his own life.
Following the development, the FBI gathered intelligence on persons allegedly involved in the scheme and requested the assistance of the EFCC in identifying and investigating the suspects and pursuing appropriate legal action in Nigeria.
Adekunle was subsequently arrested and brought before the EFCC in connection with the investigation.
In a separate case, the FBI sought the extradition of Olawale to the US over a seven-count indictment bordering on the alleged sexual exploitation and attempted exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications and the distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.
The EFCC commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024.
The Federal High Court, however, rejected the extradition application on June 10, 2024. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation subsequently appealed the ruling.
On July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, overturned the Federal High Court’s decision, paving the way for Olawale’s extradition to the United States.
The EFCC said the extradition of the two suspects underscores the growing cooperation between Nigerian and US law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crimes, particularly internet-enabled offences involving the sexual exploitation of minors and sextortion.
