US Extradites Two Nigerians Over Fatal Sextortion Crimes Targeting Minors

Two Nigerian men accused of running sextortion schemes targeting minors have been extradited to the United States to face criminal charges, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed.

The men, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, were arrested in Nigeria in 2023 following investigations into alleged online sexual exploitation and extortion involving teenage boys.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Friday that the two suspects had been taken back to the US.

His announcement came shortly after Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed their extradition.

Patel said the men were extradited to the US to face allegations including the sexual exploitation of minors, coercion, extortion, and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

“This FBI has brought back two high-value targets from Nigeria to the United States to face justice for alleged sextortion crimes targeting minors,” he said in a post on X on Friday night.

“Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale were arrested in Nigeria in 2023 and are now on U.S. soil.

“The charges include sexual exploitation of minors, coercion and enticement, extortion, distribution and production of child sexual abuse material, and other offences.

“One of these alleged schemes resulted in the death of a child. They were overseas for three years. Now they’re back on U.S. soil to answer for the charges against them.”

The EFCC also confirmed that the extradition followed separate FBI investigations into alleged sextortion involving two teenage boys.

The agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the victims were allegedly threatened with having private photographs shared with others unless they paid money.

He said the alleged payments were requested through methods including money transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

One of the investigations involved a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly approached through Instagram and persuaded to send nude images.

According to the EFCC, the suspect reportedly threatened to circulate the images among the boy’s Instagram contacts if he failed to pay.

The EFCC said the communication allegedly continued even after the boy expressed intentions to end his life.

Olawale is facing a seven-count charge in the US.

The allegations include sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, persuading a minor to engage in sexual activity, making threats across state lines and distributing child pornography.

Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, will now face the charges before US authorities.

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