The United States has pledged a reward of $25,000 (about N43 million) for information leading to the capture of Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, a Nigerian man based in Rhode Island.
Olawusi, 48, is currently facing charges tied to the tragic murder of his own son.
According to Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Don Freeman, Olawusi was indicted on two counts, including first-degree murder stemming from “inflicting bodily injury on a child” and “unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.”
Olawusi now ranks among the 15 Most Wanted fugitives on the U.S. Marshals Service’s list, with officials actively seeking public assistance to bring him to justice.
“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”, the statement said.
Reports indicate that the incident took place on the 3rd of April, 2017, when police officers and firefighters responded to the scene, discovering a critically injured three-month-old child, whom they promptly rescued. Upon the child’s admission to the hospital, medical staff identified severe injuries across 18 different areas of his body, which led to the arrest of his father, Olawusi.
Olawusi was formally charged on April 20, 2017; however, after being released that same day with the trial still pending, he disappeared, and his location remains unknown.