Lagos Man Gets 76-Year Jail Term For Child Pornography, Cyber Fraud, Money Laundering

Ikeja, Lagos State- A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan to 76 years in prison after convicting him on 18 counts related to child pornography, cyberstalking, money laundering, and internet fraud.

Justice Alexander Owoeye handed down the sentence on Thursday, following a lengthy trial prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Olalekan was found guilty of several offences including the procurement and distribution of child pornography, unlawful retention and concealment of criminal proceeds, cyberstalking, and obtaining property under false pretences.

His offences were in violation of the Cybercrimes Act, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

Initially arraigned on September 6, 2023, before Justice Y.G. Ringim, Olalekan pleaded not guilty.

The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Kehinde Ogundare and later transferred to Justice Owoeye, under whom the trial resumed afresh.

Prosecuting counsel Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari-Bala presented five witnesses during the trial, including two EFCC investigators.

She told the court that international cooperation played a role in the case, referencing an investigation by the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit into the murder of a 14-year-old boy, Robin Janjus.

“Digital forensics on the victim’s phone traced several social media accounts to the convict. An undercover operation showed that he had posed online as a female from North Carolina, using platforms like Snapchat and Instagram to target minors,” Buhari-Bala revealed.

The convict was also found to have threatened to release nude images of minors and used fraudulent means to obtain gift cards and cryptocurrency.

Justice Owoeye, in delivering judgment, said the evidence was overwhelming and found Olalekan guilty on all counts. He was sentenced accordingly to serve various jail terms totaling 76 years, with some running concurrently.