The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has extradited two Nigerian men, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and extortion involving teenage boys.
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The commission disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the two men were linked to separate investigations conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, into sextortion schemes targeting male minors, mainly those between the ages of 13 and 17.
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According to the EFCC, the investigations involved cases in which two American teenagers allegedly died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
The agency said the alleged schemes involved obtaining or using sexually explicit images of minors and then threatening the victims with the release of the material unless they provided money or other valuables.
Investigators reportedly traced payments connected to the schemes through different channels, including money transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency.
In one of the cases, the EFCC said a 13-year-old boy was contacted through Instagram by an individual who proposed an exchange of nude photographs.
The investigation later found that after receiving the minor’s photographs, the suspect allegedly threatened to send the images to people connected to the boy on Instagram and demanded money from him.
The EFCC said the online communication allegedly continued even after the teenager indicated that he was considering taking his own life.
The FBI subsequently gathered information that helped identify people suspected of participating in the alleged scheme and approached the EFCC for assistance in locating and investigating them in Nigeria.
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Following the request, the Nigerian commission commenced investigations into the individuals identified by the American authorities.
The EFCC said Adekunle was eventually arrested and brought before the commission as part of the investigation.
Olawale, meanwhile, was wanted by U.S. authorities in connection with a seven-count federal case. The allegations against him include sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticing or attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, making interstate threats and distributing or attempting to distribute child sexual abuse material.
The extradition means both suspects have been transferred to U.S. authorities to face the charges filed against them there. They will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the American judicial process.
The case also reflects the growing cooperation between Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement agencies in investigating internet-based crimes that cross national borders.
The EFCC said its collaboration with the FBI extends beyond financial offences to cases involving online criminal activities and the exploitation of vulnerable people, including minors.
Sextortion has become an international law-enforcement concern because offenders can target victims from another country while operating remotely through social media platforms and digital communication services.
The EFCC said the extradition demonstrates its continued cooperation with the FBI in tackling transnational crimes and pursuing suspects involved in online exploitation and sextortion.
The commission’s action comes as law enforcement agencies in different countries continue to strengthen cooperation on cyber-enabled crimes, particularly cases involving the sexual exploitation of children and the use of digital platforms to threaten or extort victims.
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