A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has convicted and sentenced a man, Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan, to a total of 76 years imprisonment for child pornography, cyberstalking, money laundering, and fraud.
On Thursday, Justice Alexander Owoeye imposed the sentence after finding him guilty of the offences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed 18 charges against Olalekan, including the distribution and procurement of child pornography, cyberstalking, the retention and concealment of illicit payments, and obtaining property under false pretences.
According to the prosecution counsel, Mrs Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, the offences committed contravened Sections 23(1)(c) and 23(1)(f) and were punishable under Section 23(1) and Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, and Sections 9 related to the retention of proceeds of fraud, contrary to Section 16(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3), 16(2)(a), 16(3), and 1(1)(a) and 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Olalekan first pleaded not guilty at his September 6, 2023, arraignment before Justice Y.G. Ringim.
The matter was later reallocated to Justice Kehinde Ogundare, who heard it de novo and then again before Justice Owoeye.
During the trial, EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala called five witnesses, including two investigators whose testimony was critical in obtaining the conviction.
Buhari said investigations indicated that the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit had launched an investigation into the murder of 14-year-old Robin Janjus, who was discovered dead at his home.
“Digital forensics on the victim’s phone led authorities to social media accounts operated by the convict.
“An undercover operation was subsequently launched, revealing that the convict had posed as a female from North Carolina.
“Through platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, he solicited and obtained property under false pretences, threatened to transmit nude images of minors, and engaged in multiple fraudulent transactions involving gift cards and cryptocurrency,” she said.
Justice Owoeye delivered the judgement, finding Olalekan guilty on all charges and imposing cumulative terms totalling 76 years in jail.
