Tinubu applauds EFCC as FBI praises role in 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 role in a joint operation that led to the arrest and extradition of two suspects accused of sextortion involving minors.

The suspects, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, were arrested and extradited to the United States in August 2026 following investigations under Operation Artemis, a joint effort targeting criminal networks involved in the sexual exploitation and extortion of children.

The FBI Director, Kash Patel, praised the EFCC’s contribution in a letter to the commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, saying the successful outcome of the cases would not have been possible without Nigeria’s assistance and cooperation.

The two suspects are facing federal charges in the United States.

Tinubu’s commendation was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The President described the FBI’s recognition as evidence of Nigeria’s progress in tackling financial crimes and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation.

He praised the EFCC leadership and personnel for their professionalism, insisting that Nigeria must not become a safe haven for criminals who exploit innocent people locally or abroad.

“Nigeria must never become a haven for criminals who exploit innocent people, whether at home or abroad. Our law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions have my full support to pursue offenders and bring them to justice in accordance with the law,” Tinubu said.

The President also urged the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to sustain their efforts, assuring them of his administration’s continued support.

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The commendation comes amid other international developments cited by the Presidency as evidence of improvements in Nigeria’s financial crime controls.

These include Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s high-risk financial jurisdictions list in January 2026.

Tinubu said the developments reflected his administration’s efforts to strengthen financial integrity, restore international confidence and create a safer environment for legitimate businesses and investment.

“Our fight against corruption is not measured by publicity but by results. Stronger institutions, effective law enforcement and international cooperation are essential to building a Nigeria where honest enterprise can thrive, and criminals are held accountable,” he said.