Two Nigerians have been extradited to the United States by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion of two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of the anti-graft agency said Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle were extradited on Wednesday after investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) allegedly linked them to separate sextortion schemes targeting male minors in the United States.
Oyewale said the victims were subjected to threats involving the distribution of nude photographs and were allegedly extorted for money through channels including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
According to him, one of the cases involved a 13-year-old boy who was contacted on Instagram and persuaded to exchange nude photographs.
Oyewale said the FBI investigation allegedly found that the suspect subsequently threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts unless he paid money.
The EFCC image maker added that the communication reportedly continued even after the boy indicated that he intended to take his own life.
According to him, the FBI subsequently developed intelligence on individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the EFCC’s assistance in identifying and investigating the suspects under Nigerian law.
Adekunle was arrested following the investigation and was later extradited to the US.
The EFCC spokesperson added that Olawale’s case followed a separate FBI investigation.
He said US authorities sought his extradition over a seven-count charge, including alleged sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, interstate threatening communications and distribution of child pornography.
The anti-graft agency subsequently commenced extradition proceedings against Olawale at the federal high court in Lagos in a case marked FHC/L/CS/353/2024.
Oyewale said Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, the presiding judge, refused the extradition application on June 10, 2024.
However, the office of the attorney-general of the federation appealed the decision.
On July 7, 2026, the court of appeal in Lagos, in appeal number CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the federal high court judgement and paved the way for Olawale’s extradition.
The EFCC spokesperson said the two men were extradited by the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 as part of its collaboration with the FBI on transnational crimes.
He said the cases also highlight EFCC’s cooperation with US authorities in tackling internet-enabled crimes involving the sexual exploitation and sextortion of minors.
