Two Nigerians extradited from Nigeria to the United States are facing charges over alleged sextortion schemes targeting minors, with one case reportedly linked to the death of a 13-year-old boy.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, who were arrested in Nigeria in 2023, have been returned to the US to face justice.
Patel disclosed this in a post on X on Friday night.
“This FBI has brought back two high-value targets from Nigeria to the United States to face justice for alleged sextortion crimes targeting minors,” Patel said.
He said the charges include sexual exploitation of minors, coercion and enticement, extortion, and the distribution and production of child sexual abuse material, among other offences.
“One of these alleged schemes resulted in the death of a child. They were overseas for three years. Now they’re back on US soil to answer for the charges against them,” Patel added.
The alleged crimes
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the extradition followed separate FBI investigations into alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the victims were allegedly threatened with the distribution of nude photographs and extorted for money through money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
In one case, a 13-year-old boy was allegedly contacted on Instagram and persuaded to exchange nude photographs.
The EFCC said the suspect allegedly threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts unless he paid money.
Oyewale said the communication allegedly continued even after the boy indicated that he intended to take his own life.
According to the EFCC, US authorities sought Olawale’s 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.
