Nigerian siblings extradited to US for sexual extortion trial

Two Nigerian siblings, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, have been extradited from Nigeria to the United States to stand trial for their alleged involvement in a transnational sexual extortion operation, which allegedly resulted in the death of a teenage US citizen. The brothers are now in US Federal custody in Michigan, USA.

Mark Totten, the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, who revealed this in a statement published on the website of the US Attorney’s office, said the arrests of Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, aged 22 and 20, respectively were the result of a collaborative investigation conducted by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court.

The final step in this extradition process was marked by the signing of the surrender order by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, which grants authorisation for the United States to take custody of the Ogoshi brothers, and bring them to face justice in West Michigan, US. “I am extremely pleased with how swiftly extradition efforts moved forward, and I am grateful to the FBI and our Nigerian law enforcement partners for their unyielding work to secure justice in this international sexual exploitation investigation,” Totten.

He said both men were indicted in May 2023 of four counts bordering on sexual exploitation, child pornography, and cyberstalking.

Samuel was also charged with causing the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, Michigan, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

The US prosecutors alleged that Samuel used a hacked social media account to make contact with DeMay while pretending to be a young woman.

The prosecutors said after persuading DeMay to provide a sexually explicit photo of himself, he turned round to blackmail him, threatening to publicly release the image unless DeMay paid him. DeMay paid Ogoshi $300, but Ogoshi demanded more.

Totten said after DeMay wrote that he was going to kill himself, Samuel allegedly responded, “Do that fast, or I’ll make you do it.”

“Sextortion is a horrible crime.

“To those who commit these crimes, we will pursue you around the world. And to those who are victims, please know we stand ready to help you,” said Totten.