FBI nabs Nigerian over teen sextortion, gets five years

A Nigerian national, Samuel Abiodun, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the United States after pleading guilty to his role in an online sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenage boy.

Abiodun, 25, was arrested in Nigeria alongside an accomplice, Afeez Aina, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and extradited to the US in July 2024. He was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Joel Slomsky of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

According to US Attorney David Metcalf, Abiodun served as a financial middleman in a network that targeted and extorted vulnerable young people online, with devastating consequences.

Speaking on the role Abiodun played in the conspiracy, Metcalf said, “As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatised the victim and then devastated his family.”

“These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout. In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm”.

Abiodun pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors said his role was pivotal in channelling the extorted funds from victims to the perpetrators in Nigeria.

His co-accused, Aina, pleaded guilty last month to cyberstalking, interstate threats, and receiving proceeds of extortion, among other charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 11 August and faces up to life in prison.

A third suspect, Afeez Adewale, has also been charged but remains in Nigeria, pending extradition.

The US Department of Justice praised the collaboration of Nigerian authorities, including the Attorney General’s office, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for their role in apprehending the suspects.

“This case shows the reach of US law enforcement,” Metcalf said. “If you target Americans online from abroad, we will find you — and you will be brought to justice.”

The victim, whose identity was withheld, died by suicide after being targeted in the online sextortion plot.

By Kareem Azeez, The Guardian

Related story: Nigerian crime gangs are targeting young British boys in 'sextortion' scams

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Dangote hints at major shake-up in Nigeria’s oil sector after Tinubu’s refinery visit

Speaking to journalists after President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the $20 billion refinery complex in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote described the coming change as a “major shakedown” that would impact the entire country.

While he did not provide full details, Dangote made it clear that this upcoming move would go beyond mere reductions in fuel prices.

Instead, he said it would involve a “total overhaul of the downstream sector,” indicating deep structural changes in how refined petroleum products are produced, distributed, and sold across Nigeria.

“Now that the President has visited and he has given us additional energy, we will inform you. You will hear from us soon, and that will be one of the major shakedowns in the entire country. It is not the reduction of price; it will be the total overhaul of the downstream,” Dangote said as quoted by The Punch

The comments come as the refinery, Africa’s largest, begins ramping up production to meet local fuel demands and reduce Nigeria’s historic dependence on imported petroleum products.

Dangote's impact on Nigeria's downstream sector

Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, responsible for refining, distributing, and retailing petroleum products, continues to face significant challenges that have hindered its growth, efficiency, and contribution to the broader economy.

Key issues such as limited refining capacity, persistent fuel subsidies, price volatility in an increasingly deregulated market, infrastructure deficits, rampant oil theft and smuggling, and ongoing foreign exchange constraints have collectively placed the sector in a precarious position

Analysts suggest that a full-scale shake-up of the downstream sector which has long been plagued by inefficiency, subsidy distortions, and opaque pricing mechanisms could redefine energy economics in Africa’s largest oil producer.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a $20 billion mega-project located in Lekki, Lagos, is already reshaping Nigeria’s downstream oil sector even before reaching full operational capacity.

Traditionally dependent on fuel imports despite being a major crude oil producer, Nigeria’s downstream sector has long suffered from inefficiencies, under-capacity, and a crippling subsidy regime.

For years, efforts to revive state-owned refineries under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) yielded little success.

The Dangote Refinery is now positioned as a transformative force within this space, both economically and strategically.

President Tinubu’s visit to the refinery is widely seen as a sign of federal support for Dangote’s ambitious energy agenda, especially as the administration pushes for reforms under its post-subsidy policy era.

Industry stakeholders are now watching closely for what could be one of the most consequential shifts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector in decades.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

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