Nigerian man added to U.S. “15 most wanted” list for child murder case, places $25,000 bounty

A Nigerian man, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service’s “15 Most Wanted” list for his alleged involvement in a harrowing child abuse case that led to the death of his 3-month-old son.

Authorities have announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Olawusi, 48, is facing charges of first-degree murder and two counts of serious bodily harm to a child. The case traces back to 3 April 2017, when emergency responders in Providence, Rhode Island, found his infant son in critical condition, with multiple severe injuries. The child, suffering from cardiac arrest, was resuscitated and rushed to the hospital, where a medical examination uncovered signs of prolonged abuse. These included a skull fracture, brain injury, and multiple bone fractures in various stages of healing.

Initially, Olawusi was arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse on 20 April 2017 but was released shortly after. He fled the United States on 20 June 2017, using his Nigerian passport, just months before the infant tragically succumbed to his injuries on 31 October 2017. The charges were then elevated to murder.

Authorities have been pursuing Olawusi since November 2017, with the U.S. Marshals Service joining the search effort at the request of the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

“Mr. Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child, and has fled the country to avoid justice,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis. “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, who is also known as Olekun Olawusi, is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or via the USMS Tips App.

Established in 1983, the “15 Most Wanted” fugitive programme highlights some of the U.S.’s most dangerous and high-profile fugitives. These individuals often have extensive criminal backgrounds and pose a substantial threat to public safety. Fugitives on this list are usually deemed the “worst of the worst,” and may include murderers, sex offenders, major drug traffickers, organised crime figures, and high-profile financial criminals. Since its inception, the programme has led to the capture of over 250 fugitives.

The U.S. Marshals Service has a long history of assisting other law enforcement agencies in fugitive investigations. 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.