‘No place to hide’: FBI extradites 2 Nigerians over sextortion of US teens

Extradition and Federal Court Appearances

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has extradited two Nigerian men, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, from Nigeria to face federal prosecution. The suspects are accused of orchestrating financially motivated sextortion schemes targeting American minors, including cases linked to the deaths of teenagers in North Carolina and Mississippi.

The two suspects were arrested in Nigeria in August 2023 during a wider FBI operation against sexual extortionists. Following nearly three years of custody proceedings, they were returned to the US and appeared separately before federal courts in North Carolina and Mississippi on Friday. The transfer into US custody was finalized on August 27, 2026, facilitated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Lagos Zonal Directorate.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the agency's resolve in tracking down those who exploit vulnerable populations across international borders. The development underscores a growing crackdown on online predators who believe they can evade justice by operating from abroad.

Today’s announcement represents two more high-value targets returned to the U.S. by this FBI through Foreign Transfers of Custody. Two Nigerian subjects arrested in Nigeria in 2023 - Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale - have now been returned to the United States to face justice after allegedly participating in financially-motivated sextortion of minors.

— Kash Patel, Director, FBI

Charges of Sexual Exploitation and Extortion

Adebola Festus Adekunle, 26, of Lagos, was extradited to Mississippi to face a three-count federal indictment. He is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, production of child sexual abuse material, and interstate threats with intent to extort. If convicted, the charge of sexual exploitation resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, 24, was extradited to North Carolina on charges relating to the sextortion of two victims. His indictment includes sexual exploitation of minors, distribution of child sexual abuse material, and interstate threatening communications. US authorities noted that his case involves the death of at least one teenager.

Investigators revealed that the schemes typically involved using child sexual abuse material to threaten and extort victims for money. These payments were often demanded through gift cards, cryptocurrency, and various money remitters, specifically targeting male minors between the ages of 13 and 17.

These schemes often begin with threats and manipulation, but their impact extends far deeper—causing emotional and psychological devastation.

— Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge, FBI North Carolina

Operation Artemis and International Cooperation

The North Carolina case is a component of Operation Artemis, an FBI campaign targeting financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria and other global hubs. The operation involves a network of agents, forensic experts, and international law enforcement partners working to identify perpetrators linked to dozens of teen suicides in the United States.

US Attorney-General Todd Blanche stated that the extraditions are part of a broader effort by the current administration to dismantle foreign criminal networks. The partnership between the US Department of Justice and Nigerian authorities has been instrumental in identifying perpetrators directly linked to the exploitation of American youth.

The Department of Justice and this Administration have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting America’s children from exploitation and sexual abuse. We have strengthened international law-enforcement partnerships to dismantle the foreign criminal networks behind financially-motivated sextortion.

— Todd Blanche, Attorney-General, US Department of Justice

Judicial Proceedings and Legal Precedent

The extradition of Olawale followed a complex legal battle in the Nigerian judicial system. Initially, the Federal High Court in Lagos refused the extradition application on June 10, 2024. However, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the ruling, leading to a reversal by the Court of Appeal on July 7, 2026, which cleared the way for the transfer.

US Attorney Scott Leary commended the Nigerian authorities for their sustained cooperation throughout the multi-year process. He highlighted the roles of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the EFCC in ensuring the suspects faced a US court.

Today’s announcement makes clear that we will not rest in our pursuit of justice for victims of sextortion: Three years after the indictment, and almost five years since the conduct occurred, the defendant will finally appear in a U.S. court to face the charges against him.

— Dan Bishop, US Attorney, North Carolina

While the suspects are now in US custody, authorities emphasized that the charges remain allegations. Both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.