US Marshals declare Nigerian wanted for child murder, places $25k bounty on him

The United States Marshals Service have added a Nigerian man, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, to its ‘15 Most Wanted’ list for child murder; with a bounty of $25,000 as a reward for information leading to his arrest.

Olawusi, according to the Service’s website, is wanted by the Rhode Island authorities on charges of murder, serious bodily harm to a child, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The statement said 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, with the child bleeding from the mouth and nose at a residence on April 3, 2017.Read more

The Service stated that Olawusi is believed to have fled to Nigeria after he was charged on first-degree murder and two counts of inflicting serious bodily injury to a child.

“The infant was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and required resuscitation to regain a pulse,” it said.

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“Hospital examinations revealed 18 injuries across the child’s body, in various stages of healing, suggesting long-term abuse.

‘Medical assessments identified a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, significant brain injury, and fractures to the child’s ribs, clavicle, legs, and arms,” the statement issued by Don Freeman, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, said.

Freeman added that the infant was placed on life support but died six months later leading to Olawusi’s arrest by the Providence police and charged on April 20, 2017, with first-degree child abuse.

“He was released the same day and subsequently fled. The murder charge was added following the infant’s death Oct. 31, 2017.

“Subsequent investigation revealed that Olawusi had flown out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on June 20, 2017, using his Nigerian passport.

“Investigators believe Olawusi may be receiving assistance from family members in Nigeria and that he could be a danger 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.”

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