US Extradites Two Nigerians for Sextortion of Minors

On August 27, 2023, the United States extradited two Nigerian men, Adebola Festus Adekunle, 26, from Lagos State, and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, 24, to face prosecution for alleged sextortion of American minors. The extradition followed investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nigerian security authorities.

Adekunle appeared in federal court in Oxford, Mississippi, facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, coercion and enticement of a minor, and interstate threats with intent to extort. The charge related to the victim's death carries a minimum sentence of 30 years, with potential life imprisonment.

Olawale appeared before US Magistrate Judge L. Patrick Auld in Greensboro, North Carolina, facing charges including sexual exploitation of minors and distribution of child pornography.

Both cases are part of a broader operation targeting foreign-based criminal networks involved in financially motivated sextortion, which has severe psychological impacts on young victims, including suicide.