US govt places $25,000 bounty on ‘Most Wanted’ Nigerian over son’s death
The United States government has offered a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who can supply information leading to the arrest of a Nigerian, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, who is accused of killing his own son.
The Nigerian has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service’s “15 Most Wanted” list after Rhode Island authorities declared him wanted on charges of murder, causing serious bodily harm to a child, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
A report on the U.S. Marshals Service’s official website revealed that the 48-year-old Olawusi was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child after emergency personnel in Providence found his 3-month-old son with severe injuries at a residence on 3 April 2017.
The child suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital where he required resuscitation to regain a pulse.
A subsequent medical examination at the hospital revealed 18 injuries in varying stages of healing, consistent with prolonged abuse.
The injuries included a skull fracture, severe brain injury, subdural haematoma, and fractures to the ribs, clavicle, legs, and arms. The child was placed on life support but tragically died six months later.
Olawusi was initially arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse by Providence Police on April 20, 2017. He was released the same day but subsequently fled.
Police escalate charges against Nigerian to murder
Police escalated the charges against the Nigerian to murder following the child’s death on October 31, 2027.
In November 2017, the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to locate Olawusi.
Investigations uncovered that Olawusi departed the United States from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on 20 June 2017, using his Nigerian passport.
The US authorities said the fugitive may be receiving support from relatives in Nigeria and expressed concerns that he could pose a risk to other children.
U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis said, “Mr. Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child, and has fled the country to avoid justice.
“We have placed Mr Olawusi on our 15 Most Wanted list due to the heinous crimes he’s committed and the threat he continues to pose to the public. The USMS will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community.”
Olawusi, also known as Olekun Olawusi, is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with useful information to locate him is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or via the USMS Tips App.
The “15 Most Wanted” fugitive programme, established in 1983, highlights some of the U.S.’s most dangerous and high-profile fugitives.
These individuals often have extensive criminal backgrounds and are considered a substantial threat to public safety. Fugitives on this list may include murderers, sex offenders, major drug traffickers, organised crime figures, and high-profile financial criminals, often deemed the “worst of the worst.”
The U.S. Marshals Service has a long history of assisting other law enforcement agencies in fugitive investigations, arrests and prosecutions.
In collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and local authorities, USMS-led fugitive task forces arrested over 73,000 fugitives and resolved nearly 86,000 warrants in FY 2023.
