President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its role in the arrest and extradition of two Nigerians to the United States over allegations of sexually exploiting and extorting minors.
The two suspects, identified as Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, were arrested and extradited to the US in August 2026 following a joint investigation known as Operation Artemis.
The operation targeted international criminal networks involved in sextortion and the sexual exploitation of children.
Both suspects are currently facing federal charges in the United States over their alleged involvement in the crimes.
The Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, had written to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, commending the commission for its assistance and cooperation during the investigation.
In the letter, Patel acknowledged that the successful prosecution of the cases would not have been possible without the EFCC’s commitment and support for international law enforcement cooperation.
Reacting to the development, President Tinubu, through a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended the EFCC leadership and its personnel for their professionalism and dedication.
The president stressed that Nigeria must not become a safe haven for criminals who prey on innocent people, whether within the country or abroad.
He also assured law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies of his administration’s continued support in investigating criminal activities and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice in accordance with the law.
Tinubu further emphasised the importance of international cooperation in tackling criminal activities that operate across national borders.
According to him, the success of the country’s anti-corruption campaign should be measured by tangible results rather than publicity.
He noted that stronger institutions, effective law enforcement and cooperation with international partners were necessary to create an environment where legitimate businesses could thrive and criminals would be held accountable.
The president also urged the EFCC and other security agencies to sustain their efforts in tackling financial crimes and related offences.
Tinubu maintained that his administration would continue to provide the necessary support to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption institutions.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s list of high-risk financial jurisdictions in January 2026 as evidence of progress made in strengthening the country’s financial crime prevention measures.
The extradition of the two suspects underscores the growing cooperation between Nigerian and American law enforcement agencies in the fight against international cybercrime, sextortion and the exploitation of vulnerable children.
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