The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has extradited two Nigerians, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two American teenage boys.
The EFCC said the two suspects were linked to separate investigations by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation into online schemes targeting male minors, particularly teenagers aged between 13 and 17.
According to the commission, the investigations established alleged links between the suspects and two cases in which the victims later died.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement on Friday, explaining that the alleged schemes involved the use of sexually explicit material involving minors to threaten and extort victims for money through channels including money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
The commission said the FBI investigations led to actionable intelligence on individuals allegedly involved in the schemes, prompting the US agency to seek the assistance of its Nigerian counterpart.
“FBI subsequently developed actionable intelligence identifying individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and requested the assistance of the EFCC in identifying, investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators under applicable Nigerian laws,” the commission said.
The EFCC said Adekunle was subsequently arrested and brought before the commission as part of the investigation.
It added that Olawale was wanted in connection with a seven-count charge filed by the US authorities.
The charges, according to the commission, include alleged 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, and alleged distribution and attempted distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Giving details of one of the cases, the EFCC said an alleged perpetrator contacted a 13-year-old boy through Instagram and proposed an exchange of sexually explicit photographs.
The commission said the suspect allegedly obtained material from the minor and subsequently threatened to distribute it to people connected to the victim unless money was paid.
The EFCC further said communications allegedly continued even after the victim indicated that he was in severe distress.
The agency said the development underscored the increasingly international nature of internet-enabled crimes and the need for stronger cooperation among law-enforcement agencies.
The extradition of Olawale and Adekunle, it added, demonstrated the continued collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in tackling transnational financial and cyber-enabled crimes, particularly those involving the exploitation of minors.
The suspects are expected to face the allegations before the appropriate US authorities.
The allegations against the two men have not been determined by a court, and they remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
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