President Bola Tinubu has praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recognised Nigeria’s contribution to an international operation against online sexual exploitation of minors.

The commendation followed a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, acknowledging the agency’s support during Operation Artemis, a joint investigation into criminal networks targeting children through sexual exploitation and sextortion.

The operation resulted in the arrest and extradition of two Nigerian nationals, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, to the United States in August 2026. The suspects are currently facing federal charges over their alleged involvement in the crimes.

Patel credited the EFCC’s cooperation for the successful handling of the cases, noting that the outcome would have been difficult without the Nigerian agency’s assistance.

Reacting to the recognition, Tinubu commended Olukoyede and his team for their efforts, describing the FBI’s acknowledgement as evidence of Nigeria’s growing commitment to fighting financial and cyber-related crimes.

The President stressed that Nigeria must not provide shelter for individuals who prey on innocent people, whether within the country or beyond its borders.

He also assured law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies of his administration’s continued backing, urging them to ensure that offenders are brought to justice through lawful means.

The development adds to Nigeria’s recent gains in international financial crime compliance. The country was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 and subsequently taken off the European Union’s list of high-risk financial jurisdictions in January 2026.