President Bola Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its assistance in sending two Nigerian nationals to the United States to face charges of sexual exploitation and extortion of teenage boys. The praise came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s director, Kash Patel, wrote to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, highlighting the agency’s vital contribution to the investigation known as Operation Artemis.
Key facts
- The two suspects, Mudasiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, were extradited to the U.S. in August 2024.
- The FBI’s letter stressed that the outcome would not have been possible without the EFCC’s “assistance and dedication to international law‑enforcement collaboration.”
- Tinubu, through Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, described the EFCC’s work as the “kind of institutional performance” the administration seeks nationwide.
- The president affirmed that Nigeria will not become a safe haven for criminals, whether they operate at home or abroad.
What prompted the President’s commendation?
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 facilitated the hand‑over of both suspects on 26 August after separate FBI probes uncovered sextortion schemes targeting boys aged 13‑17. The perpetrators allegedly used intimate photographs to blackmail victims, demanding payment via money‑transfer services, gift cards and cryptocurrency. The FBI linked the cases to two American teenagers who later died by suicide after being subjected to the same type of exploitation.
How did the investigation unfold?
In one instance, a 13‑year‑old received an Instagram message proposing an exchange of nude images. When the boy refused, the sender threatened to distribute the photos to his contacts unless a sum of money was paid. The threats allegedly persisted even after the boy indicated suicidal intent. The FBI identified additional participants in the network and asked the EFCC to investigate possible violations of Nigerian law.
What were the extradition proceedings?
The FBI sought Olawale’s extradition on a seven‑count indictment that includes sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, threatening communications and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The EFCC initiated the process in the Federal High Court, Lagos (suit No. FHC/L/CS/353/2024). Although trial judge Ambrose Lewis‑Allagoa dismissed the request on 10 June 2024, the Office of the Attorney‑General appealed. On 7 July, the Lagos Court of Appeal overturned the dismissal, clearing the way for Olawale’s surrender.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that Olawale, 24, was indicted in August 2023 and extradited on 27 August 2024. He appeared before a federal court in Greensboro, North Carolina the following day. The department credited Nigerian authorities—including the Attorney‑General, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the EFCC—for their role in the successful hand‑over.
What is Operation Artemis?
Operation Artemis was a joint effort involving FBI agents, analysts and forensic experts working alongside Nigerian and other international law‑enforcement bodies to dismantle sextortion networks operating from Nigeria. The operation has been linked to dozens of suicide deaths among American teenagers.
How does this fit into Nigeria’s broader anti‑crime agenda?
Tinubu’s commendation arrives shortly after Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s high‑risk third‑country list in January 2026. The president framed the EFCC’s achievement as evidence of his administration’s commitment to strengthening financial systems, restoring global confidence and ensuring that “honest enterprise can thrive, and criminals are held accountable.” He urged all law‑enforcement agencies to maintain the momentum, promising continued governmental support in the fight against financial and cyber‑crimes.
The charges against Mr Olawale remain allegations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a U.S. court.