FBI Commends EFCC, Olukoyede for Role in Tackling Sextortion of Minors
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for their contributions to an international operation targeting financially motivated sextortion networks exploiting minors.
The commendation was conveyed in a letter signed by FBI Director Kash Patel, who acknowledged the EFCC’s crucial role in Operation Artemis, a joint international law enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting online sexual exploitation and extortion networks targeting children.
In the letter addressed to Olukoyede, Patel praised the Commission for providing personnel to support investigations and facilitating the extradition of suspects from Nigeria to the United States to face prosecution.
He specifically recognised the EFCC’s role in the arrest and extradition of Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudashiru Afeez Olawale, who were indicted in the United States in 2023 over allegations involving the sexual exploitation and extortion of minors.
The two suspects were extradited to the United States in August 2026 following investigations and extradition proceedings facilitated by the EFCC.
According to Patel, the Commission’s cooperation was instrumental to the progress of the cases, which involve federal charges relating to sexual exploitation linked to the deaths of minors.
He stated that the successful outcome of the cases would not have been possible without the EFCC’s assistance and commitment to international law enforcement cooperation.
Patel also expressed appreciation to Olukoyede and the Commission for their dedication to justice, noting that the partnership between the two agencies remained important in tackling transnational cybercrime.
“Please accept my sincere appreciation for your commitment to justice and steadfast cooperation. I look forward to the continued partnership with the EFCC,” the FBI director stated.
The extradition of the suspects followed FBI investigations into separate sextortion schemes targeting male minors in the United States.
The investigations reportedly linked the alleged activities to two teenage victims who died by suicide after being subjected to online sexual exploitation and extortion.
Operation Artemis is a collaborative international effort to disrupt financially motivated sextortion networks and bring those allegedly responsible for exploiting minors to justice.
