Tinubu Hails EFCC as FBI Commends Nigeria Over Sextortion Crackdown

President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) praised Nigeria’s contribution to an international operation targeting sextortion networks accused of exploiting minors.

The commendation followed a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, acknowledging the commission’s role in Operation Artemis, a joint investigation into criminal networks involved in the sexual exploitation and extortion of children.

The operation led to the arrest and extradition of two Nigerian suspects, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, to the United States in August 2026. Both are facing federal charges in connection with the alleged offences.

In his letter, Patel credited the EFCC’s cooperation with helping advance the cases, stressing the importance of collaboration between international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crimes.

“The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” the FBI director wrote.

Reacting to the commendation, Tinubu praised Olukoyede and his team for their professionalism, describing the recognition as evidence of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen financial crime enforcement and international security cooperation.

“This is the kind of institutional performance we are determined to build across our country,” the President said.

He warned that Nigeria must not become a haven for criminals who exploit vulnerable people at home or abroad, assuring law enforcement agencies of his administration’s support in pursuing suspects and bringing offenders to justice through lawful processes.

Tinubu also urged the EFCC and other security agencies to sustain their efforts against financial crimes and transnational criminal networks.

The Presidency cited Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s list of high-risk financial jurisdictions in January 2026 as further developments reflecting progress in the country’s financial integrity measures.

The President said effective institutions, stronger enforcement and international cooperation were essential to restoring confidence in Nigeria’s financial system and protecting legitimate businesses.

The FBI’s commendation highlights the role of cross-border collaboration in investigating online sexual extortion, a crime in which perpetrators threaten to expose intimate images or information to coerce victims. The two Nigerian suspects remain subject to the US judicial process, and the charges against them have yet to be resolved in court.