Crime
NIGERIAN MAN EXTRADITED TO US IN SEXUAL EXTORTION CASE LINKED TO PENNSYLVANIA TEEN’S DEATH
PHILADELPHIA A 26-year-old Nigerian national has been transferred to the United States to face charges for his alleged role in a sextortion operation that authorities say contributed to the death of a young man in Pennsylvania.
Afeez Olatunji Adewale arrived in the US and appeared before US Magistrate Judge Lynne A Sitarski in federal court in Philadelphia following his extradition on February 13 2026 He is the third Nigerian national extradited in connection with the case and faces charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering
According to the United States Department of Justice Adewale was apprehended in Nigeria on August 17 2023 during a coordinated operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at dismantling sextortion networks targeting minors in the United States The extradition was facilitated with assistance from the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs the FBI Legal Attach in Abuja and FBI agents who took custody of him upon his arrival in the US
US Attorney David Metcalf credited Nigerian authorities for their significant role in facilitating the extradition He specifically acknowledged the efforts of Nigerias Attorney General of the Federation the Federal Ministry of Justices International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Investigators from the FBIs Philadelphia Field Office its Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Abington Township Police Department handled the case Assistant US Attorney Patrick Brown is leading the prosecution
Two of Adewales alleged accomplices were extradited earlier in August 2024 Imoleayo Samuel Aina 27 also known as Alice Dave and Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun 26 Abiodun later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud In June 2025 US District Judge Joel H Slomsky sentenced him to five years in prison
Aina admitted guilt to multiple charges including cyberstalking interstate threats to damage reputation receiving extortion proceeds money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud In October 2025 Judge Slomsky handed him a six year prison sentence
US authorities allege the defendants operated a sextortion scheme that targeted young American males Victims were allegedly manipulated into sending explicit images which were then used to threaten and extort money under the threat of public exposure The case is connected to the death of a young man in Pennsylvania
In recent years Nigeria has stepped up collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime particularly sextortion cases that have drawn widespread global concern In 2023 Nigerian nationals Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi were extradited to the United States over accusations of sexually extorting several teenage boys including a 17 year old whose death was linked to the scheme
Similarly Olamide Shanu was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States in 2025 for his alleged role in a sextortion network accused of defrauding victims of at least 2 million by posing as women online and threatening to release explicit content
This week Nigerian authorities in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from 15 other African nations announced the arrest of 651 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of millions of dollars in assets during a coordinated international crackdown
Despite the allegations Adewale is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law
The monarch of Agamo Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Kehinde Falodun, has been reportedly killed by suspected kidnappers.
Reports indicate that the traditional ruler was murdered on Wednesday evening while resisting an attempt by the gunmen to abduct him.
A source in the community said about 10 armed men stormed the palace and attempted to kidnap the monarch, but he resisted them.
According to the source, when the assailants allegedly shot at him several times and the bullets did not penetrate, they reportedly struck his head with a heavy object, leading to his death.
Confirming the incident on Thursday in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Police Command, Mr Abayomi Jimoh, said an investigation had commenced into the matter.
The victim was later found a few metres away with gunshot wounds. He was confirmed dead at the scene, Jimoh said.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, alongside tactical teams from the command, promptly mobilised officers in collaboration with local security outfits, he added.
Jimoh stated that Atuluse Security, local hunters, and Amotekun operatives also assisted in combing adjoining bushes and surrounding areas in a bid to apprehend the perpetrators.
Efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, the police spokesman said.
Monitoring and surveillance activities have been intensified across the area to ensure the safety of residents and prevent further breakdown of law and order, Jimoh added.
The public is assured that no stone will be left unturned in bringing those responsible for the heinous act to justice, he said.
The incident comes weeks after suspected bandits attacked Ayede Community in the same local government area and abducted a pregnant woman, Mrs Mary Jesulayomi, who was later released after a ransom was reportedly paid.
Days after that incident, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, arrested 12 men suspected of being involved in banditry in the area.
Residents have expressed concern over the growing insecurity in Akure North, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to restore peace in the affected communities.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday held on to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, marking his second night in custody at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
There were indications that the ex-governor might remain in detention longer if the anti-graft agency secures a remand order from a competent court.
A source within the commission said El-Rufai underwent another round of questioning over his administration between 2015 and 2023. The source said, “For hours we asked el-Rufai to respond to statement by his Commissioner for Finance, who had earlier appeared before EFCC. There are so many documents he has to surf, we will not release him. There are plans to secure a longer remand order from a competent court.
“There is no cause for alarm at all because el-Rufai has access to his lawyer and his rights are being protected.”
It was unclear which of his former commissioners for finance was interrogated. During his two terms, Suleiman Abdu Kwari served as Commissioner for Finance from May 2015 to May 2019 before resigning to contest the Kaduna North Senatorial seat. Mohammad Bashir Saidu was appointed in April 2019 as Kwari’s replacement and had earlier served as Chief of Staff to the governor.
Meanwhile, security sources said the Department of State Services (DSS) was set to take over El-Rufai for arraignment over alleged telephone tapping of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The secret police have reportedly filed a three-count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has disclosed that he was marked for assassination by officers implicated in an alleged coup plot against the Federal Government.
General Musa made the revelation on Sunday night during an appearance on Channels Television’s One-on-One programme, where he said the plot to overthrow the government had been set in motion even before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.
According to him, the coup plotters planned to kill him immediately after his arrest if their attempt to seize power had succeeded.“I was also a target, I am sure you know,” Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said during the programme. “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.”
The Defence Minister described the suspects as disgruntled and unserious elements who were fully aware of the consequences of their actions and should now face the law following their arrest and detention.
In October last year, the military announced the arrest of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. The arrests occurred before Musa retired from active military service and was later appointed Minister of Defence by President Tinubu.
Musa explained that most of those allegedly involved in the plot were junior officers of low ranks who lacked access to strategic military weapon depots, stressing that a coup could not succeed under such circumstances.
He further noted that staging a successful coup in modern-day Nigeria is extremely difficult, unlike in earlier years when military takeovers were more feasible.
Providing insight into the motivation behind the alleged plot, Musa said the dissident officers were individuals who failed promotion examinations and became aggrieved.
He added that promotion within the Armed Forces is highly competitive and dependent on passing mandatory assessments.
Meanwhile, authorities last week confirmed that investigations had identified several officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government—acts described as inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said officers found to have cases to answer would be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.“
Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” Uba said.