The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has extradited two Nigerians to the United States to face prosecution over alleged online sexual exploitation and sextortion of two American teenage boys who later died by suicide.

The suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, were extradited by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

The commission said the suspects were identified in separate investigations by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation into alleged sextortion schemes targeting male minors, particularly boys between the ages of 13 and 17.

According to the EFCC, the investigations uncovered alleged schemes involving the use of child sexual abuse material to blackmail victims and demand money through money remitters, gift cards and cryptocurrency.

The commission said the FBI linked the suspects’ alleged activities to two separate cases involving American minors who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.

In one of the cases, a 13-year-old boy reportedly received a direct message on Instagram from an individual who proposed exchanging nude photographs.

The FBI investigation allegedly found that the individual subsequently threatened to distribute the boy’s photographs to his Instagram contacts and demanded money from him.

The EFCC said the communications allegedly continued even after the boy indicated that he intended to take his own life.

Following the investigation, the FBI developed intelligence on individuals allegedly involved in the scheme and sought the assistance of the EFCC to identify and investigate the suspects and pursue prosecution under applicable Nigerian laws.

Adekunle was subsequently arrested and brought before the EFCC, while the FBI sought the extradition of Olawale to the United States over a seven-count charge.

The charges against Olawale 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 distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.

The EFCC 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.

The Federal High Court had rejected the extradition application on June 10, 2024, prompting the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to appeal the decision.

However, on July 7, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, in Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/721/2024, set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment, paving the way for Olawale’s extradition.

The EFCC said the extradition of the two suspects underscored the continued cooperation between the commission and the FBI in combating transnational financial crimes and internet-enabled offences, particularly those involving the exploitation of minors and sextortion.