Siblings extradited to U.S. for child exploitation, sextortion crimes

On August 13, 2023, the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) facilitated the extradition of Samuel Ogoshi and his brother, Samson, to the United States. They are set to face prosecution for engaging in sexually coercive activities targeting numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the U.S.

The extradition proceedings were initiated by the Commission in May 2023 at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division. The case involves the Ogoshi siblings and Ezekiel Ejemeh Robert, who are accused of exploiting minors and producing pornography. The request for extradition came from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Ogoshi brothers and Ezekiel were indicted in a United States Federal Court on December 1, 2022, on charges related to the exploitation of minors, leading to fatalities. They stand accused of conspiring to manipulate minors into producing pornographic images, which were subsequently used to blackmail and extort them. Additional charges include conspiring to distribute child pornography and engaging in internet-based stalking.

The alleged crimes are punishable by imprisonment, with sentences ranging from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 20 years. Specifically, Samuel Ogoshi is charged with being responsible for the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Marquette, Michigan, who tragically died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

Investigations reveal that the suspects collaborated to execute sex-based extortion schemes targeting minors and adults in the United States. Operating under false identities of young and attractive women, the trio hacked into social media accounts to entice unsuspecting victims into sharing explicit photographs. Subsequently, these images were exploited to coerce victims into making substantial financial payments.

While the Ogoshi brothers were apprehended in February 2023 in the Ojo area of Lagos, Ezekiel was apprehended by EFCC operatives in Nasarawa. The extradition of the third defendant, Robert, is currently pending.