President Bola Tinubu has counseled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its role in the extradition of two Nigerians accused of sexually exploiting and extorting teenage boys in the United States.
The commendation adopted a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, praising the fee’s help in an investigation into felony networks concerned in financially motivated sextortion.
The investigation, generally known as Operation Artemis, led to the extradition of Mudasiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle to the US in August.
In his letter, Mr Patel mentioned the cooperation of the Nigerian company was essential to the result of the instances.
“The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” he wrote.
In an announcement shared on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu praised the EFCC chairman and his crew for his or her work.
“This is the kind of institutional performance we are determined to build across our country. I commend the EFCC Chairman and his team for their professionalism and dedication,” he mentioned.
The president famous that his administration would help regulation enforcement companies in pursuing offenders, no matter the place their crimes have been dedicated.
“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,” he said.
How the investigation unfolded
The EFCC said its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the extradition of each suspects on 26 August following separate FBI investigations into sextortion schemes focusing on teenage boys.
According to the fee, the schemes focused male minors, significantly these aged between 13 and 17. The suspects allegedly used intimate images to threaten victims and demand cash by means of cash switch companies, present playing cards and cryptocurrency.
The FBI linked the investigations to 2 separate instances involving American youngsters who died by suicide after being subjected to on-line sexual exploitation and extortion.
In one case, a 13-year-old boy allegedly obtained a message on Instagram from somebody who proposed an trade of nude images. The particular person later threatened to share the boy’s images along with his Instagram contacts until he paid cash.
The fee noted that the threats reportedly continued even after the boy indicated that he supposed to take his personal life.
The FBI subsequently recognized people allegedly concerned in the scheme and requested the EFCC’s help in investigating them for potential prosecution beneath Nigerian regulation.
Extradition proceedings
The EFCC mentioned the FBI sought Mr Olawale’s extradition to face a seven-count indictment, together with prices regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor ensuing in loss of life, attractive a minor to interact in sexual exercise, threatening communications and distributing youngster sexual abuse materials.
The fee initiated extradition proceedings on the Federal High Court in Lagos in go well with quantity FHC/L/CS/353/2024.
Trial choose Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa rejected the applying on 10 June 2024, however the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation appealed the choice.
But EFCC said that on 7 July, the Court of Appeal in Lagos put aside the ruling, paving the best way for Mr Olawale’s extradition.
The US Department of Justice famous that Mr Olawale, 24, was indicted in August 2023 and extradited on 27 August. He appeared earlier than a federal court docket in Greensboro, North Carolina, the next day.
The division credited Nigerian authorities, together with the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC, with aiding in the extradition.
It mentioned Operation Artemis concerned FBI brokers, analysts and forensic consultants working with Nigerian and different worldwide regulation enforcement companies to deal with sextortion networks working from Nigeria.
The division famous that the schemes had been linked to dozens of deaths by suicide amongst American youngsters.
Mr Olawale’s prices stay allegations. The US Department of Justice mentioned he’s presumed harmless until confirmed responsible past an affordable doubt in court docket.
Nigeria’s monetary crime document
Mr Tinubu’s commendation comes after Nigeria was faraway from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray checklist in October 2025 and the European Union’s checklist of high-risk third international locations in January.
The president mentioned the developments mirrored his administration’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s monetary system and restore worldwide confidence.
“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 famous.
He urged the EFCC and different regulation enforcement companies to maintain their efforts, assuring them of his administration’s continued help in tackling monetary crimes and defending Nigerians.
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