The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the extradition of two Nigerians, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion of two teenage boys.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the extradition of the duo to the US on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following separate investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into sextortion schemes targeting male minors.
According to the Commission, the alleged schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to blackmail victims and extort money through various channels, including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The FBI investigations linked the two cases to the deaths of two American minors who reportedly died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one of the cases, the EFCC said a 13-year-old boy received a direct message on Instagram from a subject who proposed an exchange of nude photographs.
The subject allegedly later threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.
The FBI further established that communications reportedly continued even after the minor indicated that he intended to take his own life.
Following the development, the FBI generated actionable intelligence on individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the assistance of the EFCC to identify, investigate and prosecute the suspects under applicable Nigerian laws.
The EFCC subsequently arrested Adekunle following its investigation.
In a separate case, the FBI sought the extradition of Olawale over a seven-count charge bordering on the 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, sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.
The EFCC thereafter commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024. The case was heard before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa following the extradition request by the FBI.
The Federal High Court had, on June 10, 2024, refused the extradition application. The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation subsequently appealed the decision.
However, 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, clearing the way for Olawale’s extradition to the US.
The EFCC said the extradition of Olawale and Adekunle underscored the growing collaboration between the Commission and the FBI in combating transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
The two suspects are expected to face prosecution before the appropriate authorities in the United States.
