The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has extradited two men to the United States to face trial over alleged online sexual extortion that led to the deaths of two teenagers.
The suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, were handed over by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
The FBI had linked both men to separate sextortion schemes targeting boys aged 13 to 17 in the U.S.
According to the EFCC, the schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material, CSAM, to blackmail victims into sending money through money transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The FBI linked the activities of the suspects to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after being sexually exploited and extorted online.
In one case, a 13-year-old boy received an Instagram direct message asking for nude photos. Investigations showed the sender later threatened to leak the images to the boy’s contacts and demanded money. The FBI said the suspect kept contacting the minor even after he said he wanted to take his own life.
Following the FBI’s request, the EFCC launched its own investigation and arrested Adekunle.
Olawale was also indicted by the FBI on a seven-count charge. The charges include sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticing a minor for sex, interstate threatening communication, and distribution of child pornography.
The EFCC subsequently filed for his extradition at the Federal High Court, Lagos, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024 before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa. The court dismissed the application on June 10, 2024.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the decision.
On July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, overturned the lower court’s ruling and approved Olawale’s extradition to the U.S.
The EFCC said the extradition of both men reflects the continued partnership between the Commission and the FBI in tackling transnational crimes, especially internet fraud and online exploitation of minors.
