The United States has announced a $25,000 (approximately N43 million) reward for information leading to the capture of Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, a Nigerian facing charges in Rhode Island for allegedly killing his own son.
According to a statement by Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Don Freeman, Olawusi, 48, was charged with two counts, including first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He is accused of causing serious bodily harm to his three-month-old child, resulting in the infant’s death. Olawusi’s case has landed him among the U.S. Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitives, underscoring the severity of his alleged crimes.
“A man wanted in Rhode Island on charges of murder, inflicting serious bodily injury to a child, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitives list with an up to $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest,” read the statement.
The incident reportedly occurred on April 3, 2017, when police and emergency responders discovered Olawusi’s severely injured child. Medical examinations later revealed the infant sustained severe trauma across 18 areas of his body. Following an investigation, Olawusi was arrested and arraigned on April 20, 2017. However, he disappeared shortly after his release, evading authorities ever since.
The U.S. Marshals Service is urging anyone with information on Olawusi’s whereabouts to come forward, emphasizing that any assistance could be pivotal in his apprehension.
