Nigerian extradited to USA for alleged sextortion, likely to face life imprisonment

A 24-year old Nigerian, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal has been extradited to the US to face prosecution over alleged sextortion of a USA minor, which led to the victim’s death.
Abolore Lawal appeared in a federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday January 27 and entered a not guilty plea to charges including child exploitation resulting in death and the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation which led to the Nigerian’s extradition was launched after Gavin Guffey, a 17-year-old took his own life after he was allegedly victimised by Mr Abolore Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teen into sending compromising photos. He then extorted and sent harassing messages to the victim threatening to leak the photos and ruin his reputation unless he sent him money. Abolore Lawal was said to have later done the same thing to members of the victim’s family.
Mr Lawal faces the possibility of life in prison. The charge of child exploitation resulting in death carries a mandatory 30-year sentence. He will continue to be held without bail. His next court hearing is Monday.