Nigerian Extradited To U.S. For Sextortion Linked To Teen’s Suicide
A 24-year-old Nigerian, Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal has been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution for the sextortion of a South Carolina minor, which led to the victim’s death.
The investigation began after 17-year-old Gavin Guffey from Rock Hill died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimized by Lawal’s scheme.
Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media, coerced the teen into sending compromising photos, and then extorted him, threatening to leak the photos unless he paid money.
Lawal later targeted the victim’s family with similar threats.
A federal Grand Jury in South Carolina indicted Lawal in October 2023 on five counts, including child exploitation resulting in death, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, interstate threats with intent to extort, and aiding and abetting.
If convicted, Lawal faces up to life in prison, with mandatory minimum sentences on several counts.
The child exploitation charge resulting in death carries a mandatory 30-year sentence.
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He also faces mandatory restitution, where the court may order him to compensate the victim’s family for their losses.
Following extradition proceedings in Nigeria, FBI agents from the Columbia Field Office took custody of Lawal in Lagos on January 24 and executed his transfer to the U.S. with assistance from Nigerian law enforcement.
“We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean. Today we honor Gavin’s life and continue our fight against sextortion by holding this defendant accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina.
“This indictment represents the culmination of countless hours of dedicated work done by our investigators both here and abroad,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office.
The extradition was made possible through cooperation between the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. State Department, and Nigerian law enforcement.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office – Ministry of Justice, and other Nigerian authorities played a key role in identifying, investigating, arresting, and extraditing Lawal.
This case is part of a nationwide initiative to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, involving multiple law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
The investigation involved the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Section, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors Elliott B. Daniels, Lothrop Morris, and Michael Shedd are handling the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
