EFCC Extradites Two Nigerians Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, Adebola Festus Adekunle To US Over Alleged Child Exploitation, Sextortion
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the extradition of two Nigerians to the United States to face prosecution over alleged sexual exploitation and sextortion of two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
The EFCC, in a post on its official X account, said its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the extradition of Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
According to the commission, the two men were identified in separate investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly boys aged between 13 and 17.
The EFCC said the alleged schemes involved the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) to extort victims through various means, including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
“The FBI investigations linked the activities of the alleged perpetrators to two separate cases involving American minors, who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion,” the EFCC said.
In one of the cases, the commission said a 13-year-old boy received a direct message on Instagram from a person who suggested an exchange of nude photographs.
“Investigations by the FBI revealed that the subject subsequently threatened to disseminate the minor’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him,” the statement said.
The EFCC added that communications reportedly continued even after the minor indicated that he intended to take his own life.
The FBI subsequently developed intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the EFCC’s assistance in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the suspects under applicable Nigerian laws.
Following the investigation, Adekunle was arrested and brought before the EFCC.
In a separate case, the FBI 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.”
The EFCC subsequently commenced 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 the FBI’s request.
Although the Federal High Court rejected the application during proceedings on June 10, 2024, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the decision.
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on July 7, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the Federal High Court judgment, clearing the way for Olawale’s extradition to the United States.
The EFCC said the extradition of Olawale and Adekunle further demonstrates the sustained cooperation between the commission and the FBI in combating transnational financial crimes, particularly internet-enabled offences involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.
