A federal high court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Olukeye Adeayo Olalekan to 76 years in prison after finding him guilty of multiple offences, including child pornography, cyberstalking, fraud, and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Olalekan on an 18-count charge, encompassing serious violations such as distributing and procuring child pornography, cyberstalking, obtaining property under false pretences, and concealing the proceeds of fraud.
Counts one to three pertained to the distribution and procurement of child pornography, contrary to sections 23(1)(c) and 23(1)(f) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
According to the EFCC, count four involved cyberstalking, while counts five through nine addressed the unlawful retention of fraudulent proceeds, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Counts 10 to 14 involved disguising the origin of those criminal proceeds, and counts 15 to 18 related to obtaining property under false pretences, in contravention of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Olalekan was initially arraigned before Justice Y.G. Ringim on September 6, 2023, where he pleaded not guilty. However, the case was later reassigned and restarted before Justices Kehinde Ogundare and then Alexander Owoeye, where the trial proceeded in full.
The case attracted international attention following an investigation by the British Columbia Serious Crime Unit in Canada into the death of 14-year-old Robin Janjus, who was found dead in his residence. Forensic analysis of the victim’s mobile device reportedly led Canadian authorities to social media accounts linked to Olalekan.
Further investigations, including an undercover operation, revealed that Olalekan had impersonated a woman from North Carolina on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram to deceive and lure victims.
He was found to have solicited and obtained property under false pretences, issued threats to distribute explicit images of minors, and engaged in fraudulent transactions involving cryptocurrency and gift cards.
After evaluating the evidence, the court found Olalekan guilty on all 18 counts and imposed a cumulative sentence of 76 years in prison.