EFCC Extradites Two Nigerians to U.S. Over Sextortion Linked to Deaths of American Teenagers

By Joseph Sunday 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has extradited two Nigerian nationals to the United States over sextortion schemes linked to the deaths of two American teenagers.

The suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, were handed over on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Commission.

EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

According to the Commission, the duo were identified by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, in separate investigations into online sextortion targeting male minors aged between 13 and 17.

The FBI investigations revealed that the schemes involved blackmailing minors with intimate images and demanding payments through money transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency. The cases were linked to two incidents in which the victims died by suicide.

In one of the cases cited, a 13-year-old boy in the United States was contacted on Instagram and coerced into sharing explicit images. The perpetrator allegedly threatened to distribute the images to the boy’s contacts unless payment was made, with the threats continuing even after the victim expressed suicidal intentions.

Following actionable intelligence from the FBI, the EFCC investigated and arrested Adekunle.

Olawale is wanted in the U.S. on a seven-count charge bordering on sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications, and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

The EFCC had filed extradition proceedings against Olawale at the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, in suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024 before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, following a request from the FBI.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa had initially refused the application on June 10, 2024, but 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, set aside the Federal High Court judgment, paving the way for his extradition.

The Commission said the extradition highlights its sustained collaboration with the FBI in combating transnational cybercrime, particularly online crimes involving the exploitation of minors.