President Bola Tinubu praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) credited the agency with helping dismantle an international network accused of sexually exploiting and extorting minors.
In a letter to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency’s assistance was central to Operation Artemis, a joint investigation into criminal groups engaged 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 US in August, where both face federal charges.
“The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” Patel wrote, according to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu described the FBI’s praise as evidence that Nigeria’s law-enforcement institutions are becoming more capable and more trusted by foreign partners.
“Nigeria must never become a haven for criminals who exploit innocent people, whether at home or abroad,” he said, adding that his administration would support agencies pursuing offenders “in accordance with the law.”
The commendation arrives as Abuja seeks to present itself as a more credible destination for capital and cross-border business.
Nigeria was removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list in October 2025 after completing a 19-point action plan to strengthen its anti-money-laundering and counterterrorist-financing regime; the government has also cited its removal from the European Union’s list of high-risk financial jurisdictions in January.
President Tinubu said the fight against corruption should be judged “not by publicity but by results,” and urged the EFCC and other agencies to sustain enforcement efforts.
The case also underscores the growing reach of US prosecutors into online crimes with cross-border dimensions.
According to Onanuga, the investigation targeted schemes involving underage victims, and the extraditions followed separate FBI inquiries facilitated by the EFCC’s Lagos office.
