A Federal High Court 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.
Justice Alexander Owoeye, on Thursday, handed down the sentencing after finding him guilty of the offences.
Olalekan was arraigned on 18 counts bordering on the distribution and procurement of child pornography, cyberstalking, retention and concealment of fraudulent funds, and obtaining property under false pretences, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, the offences committed contravened Sections 23(1)(c) and Section 23(1)(f), and punishable under Section 23(1), 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),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.
He initially pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment on September 6, 2023, before Justice Y.G. Ringim.
The case was later reassigned and heard de novo before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, and subsequently, again, before Justice Owoeye.
During the trial, the EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, called five witnesses, including two investigators whose testimonies played a pivotal role in securing the conviction.
During the trial, the EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, called five witnesses, including two investigators whose testimonies played a pivotal role in securing the conviction.
Buhari said investigations revealed that the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit had opened an inquiry into the murder of 14-year-old Robin Janjus, who was found dead at 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.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Owoeye found Olalekan guilty on all counts and handed down cumulative sentences that amounted to 76 years imprisonment.
