The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday August 26 said it facilitated the extradition of Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle to the U.S. to face charges for allegedly sexually extorting two teenage boys, which led to their deaths.

These individuals were identified in separate FBI investigations into sextortion schemes targeting male minors aged 13 to 17, involving the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to extort money through methods like money remitters, gift cards, and cryptocurrencies.

The FBI linked their activities to two cases where American minors, after being exploited online, died by suicide.

One victim, a 13-year-old boy, was contacted via Instagram by a suspect who proposed exchanging nude photos, then threatened to share the images and demanded money.

Despite the minor’s intentions to end his life, communications persisted. The FBI gathered intelligence on the suspects and sought the EFCC’s help to identify, investigate, and prosecute them under Nigerian law. Following the investigation, Adekunle was arrested and presented before the Commission.

In a similar vein, the FBI also sought the extradition of Olawale over a seven-count charge, including “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.”

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Consequently, the Commission initiated extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024, before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, following a request by the FBI.

Although the Judge refused the application during proceedings on June 10, 2024, the ruling was subsequently appealed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

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, thereby paving the way for Olawale’s extradition to the U.S.

The extradition of Olawale and Adekunle underscores the continued collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in tackling transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled crimes involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.